On 2 May, the European Commission (EC) published its Energy Technologies and Innovation Communication to launch a discussion on how to improve framework conditions for research and innovation. The EC highlighted more strongly the relevance of pushing for market uptake of technologies. Overall, it takes a more holistic view of energy technology development. The Communication is accompanied by a Staff Working Document which focuses on technology assessment.
The general narrative of the document is that “the EU needs to do more to bring new, high performance low-cost, low-carbon sustainable energy technologies to the market. New technologies are vital to achieve all of the EU 2020 objectives in energy, climate, economic and social policy, as well as those for 2030 and 2050. The EU must have a strong and dynamic technology and innovation strategy both to deliver its policy goals strengthen its competitiveness and to better coordinate investments.” The Communication also recognises that “whilst a number of technologies have been successfully developed and brought to the market (onshore wind and PV) thanks to deployment support, an open and flexible approach to further development of a portfolio of cost-effective and sustainable energy options is needed.”
The Commission stresses the need to accelerate innovation in cutting edge low-carbon technologies and innovative solutions, to reduce costs rapidly and speed up the introduction of new technologies to the market. Among the measures proposed is the development of an Integrated Roadmap addressing the energy system as a whole, as well as measures along the entire innovation chain by the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan stakeholders and the design of Action Plans with member states. Energy efficiency will gain visibility through the creation of a coordination structure under the SET Plan Steering Group for the promotion of investments in research and innovation in the field of energy efficiency.
