Commission adopts Energy Roadmap 2050

On 15 December 2011, the European Commission adopted a new Communication entitled "Energy Roadmap 2050". According to the Commission, this Roadmap provides a basis for the development of “a long-term European framework together with all stakeholders”. The scenarios presented explore routes towards the decarbonisation of the energy system with the aim of achieving an 80-95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050. A number of issues of relevance to the cement industry are covered by the Communication. These include:

• The EU’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETSⁱ) and the potential risk of carbon leakage;
• The potential benefits of carbon capture and storage (CCS) as “an important option for decarbonisation of several heavy industries”;
• The important contribution of higher energy efficiency in both new and existing buildings;
• The positive contribution of alternative fuels;
• The need to provide support for research and demonstration on an industrial scale.

In relation to this issue, on 9 December 2011, the European Council called for a “thorough consideration of the forthcoming energy roadmap 2050 which will provide a detailed analysis on long term action in the energy sector and other related sectors”.

More information: European Commission