Phasing out coal in the EU power system by 2030: A policy action plan

The European Climate Law obliges the EU institutions and Member States to take all necessary measures to reduce net domestic greenhouse gas emissions in Europe by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Hard-coal and lignite power plants are one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters in the EU. 16 EU Member States are already or will be coal-free by 2025; however, to stay on the cost-efficient net-zero pathway, coal will need to be phased out of the EU’s electricity system by 2030.

To provide a foundation for a fact-based discussion on phasing out coal in the EU power system, we tasked the consultancy enervis energy advisors with developing 2030 coal phase-out scenarios. These scenarios allow us to identify a suitable mix of enabling measures that phase out coal, ensure security of supply, minimise costs to consumers and avoid new fossil fuel lock-ins. With the EU-wide coal phase-out just 9 years ahead, we took insights from the modelling to develop an action plan that we hope will guide EU and national decisions in the months to come.

On 19 October, we will present the main results of the study and propose a policy action plan for achieving a 2030 coal exit in the EU’s power system.

The 2-hour webinar will be held in English and includes a Q & A sessions.

[Text: Agora Energiewende]