AFRY and Iberdrola explore a holistic roadmap towards a zero-emissions EU energy sector in 2050

08/05/2020

This report prepared jointly by AFRY and Iberdrola aims to identify the keys to a successful and efficient decarbonisation of the energy sector by 2050 in Europe, with a focus on Great Britain and Spain – the energy sector being in this study power generation, heat, and road and rail transport.

It concludes that the optimal pathway to a zero-carbon future needs fast and massive penetration of electric vehicles, that heat pumps will be key to decarbonise buildings and a mix of energies are needed to allow the efficient decarbonisation of industry. In the power sector, a generation mix largely dominated by renewables means flexibility must migrate towards demand-side, where EVs and heat pumps connected to smart grids will help demand balance the generation profile and avoid curtailments or load losses. Hydrogen will be a key complement to electrification, mainly produced with renewable electricity.

Read the full report

2050 Holistic & Efficient Roadmap for a Zero-Emissions EU Energy - A report to Iberdrola - April 2020
In November 2016, the Paris Agreement, an international agreement governing the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, entered into force. With more than 150 countries ratifying the agreement, including the three largest greenhouse emitters, there appeared to be a very broad consensus across the globe that significant action was required urgently...