Europe's race to renewables - cheaper, vaster faster

Show notes

The renewables race is on!

Utility-scale solar photovoltaics and onshore wind are now the cheapest sources of new power in most countries, and according to a 2022 report by the International Energy Agency, renewables will account for over 90% of global electricity expansion over the next five years.

These dramatic decreases in the price of wind and solar have pushed renewables from being also-rans to being front and center in the race to carbon neutrality. The EU now aims to achieve 42.5% of energy from renewables by 2040, with the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive providing the key framework for accelerating the adoption of renewable energy to meet that target.

It’s a lot to keep track of, and the energy crisis stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine has only strengthened the EU’s resolve to shift to renewables by adding compelling energy-security arguments for reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports. To bring “Green Deal – Big Deal?” listeners up to date on this rapidly evolving topic, hosts Ricarda Faber and Aaron Best of Ecologic Institute are joined by Professor Johan Lilliestam of the Research Institute for Sustainability Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) and Dr. Andrzej Ancygier of Climate Analytics.

In the discussion, our expert guests shed light on the past, present and future of renewables in the EU, describing the major market shifts, policy events and technological developments that have made renewable energy one of the most exciting facets of achieving sustainability in Europe. What are the most interesting new technologies? Why are grids so important? What surprising bottlenecks are emerging within this fast-paced transition and how can they be addressed? Tune in for answers to these and other questions.

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