RE-thinking 2050 presents a pathway towards a 100% renewable energy system for the EU, examining the effects on Europe’s energy supply system and on CO2 emissions, while at the same time portraying the economic, environmental and social benefits of such a system. Moreover, the report provides policy recommendations for what is needed to fully exploit the EU´s vast renewable energy potential. Download PDF-file of RE-thinking 2050 and declare your support for the 100% goal on the campaign website at www.rethinking2050.eu/index.php?id=6. Christine Lins, Secretary General of EREC presented the publication at the Biomass Industry Forum organised by EUBIA in Lyon in May 2010, a copy of the presentation can be downloaded at:  www.eubia.org/?id=400.

The European Climate Foundation published its comprehensive ‘Roadmap to 2050: A practical guide to a prosperous and low-carbon Europe’, in April 2010. The campaign website is live at: www.roadmap2050.eu/ where all the reports can be downloaded.  The project finds that in each of the low/zero-carbon pathways presented, using 40%, 60%, 80% or 100% renewable energy sources and assuming an average carbon price of at least €20-30 per tCO2e over 40 years, the future cost of electricity is comparable to the future cost of electricity under the current carbon intensive infrastructure.  Although the project looks at a scenario of 100% renewables by 2050 the European Climate Foundation’s Mike Hogan has stated at the recent Eurelectric conference in Dublin that ‘A balanced approach for him would require 60% RES complemented by nuclear and CCS.’  On that note, Eurelectric have also finally released the full report they presented in the European Parliament in November on 2009 ‘Power Choices to 2050: Pathways to carbon neutral electricity in Europe by 2050.’ Reflections on the Eurelectric Power Choices Study were given during Sustainable Energy Week in March 2010 by the European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils (EEAC): http://www.eeac-net.org/workgroups/pdf/WG-En-Reflections_on_theEurelectric_Study_Jan10.pdf.
The efforts of EREC and the European Climate Foundation on scenarios to 2050 will be useful for the announced European Commission’s work on ‘Roadmap for low carbon energy system by 2050’, which is due to be released in early 2011.  The Roadmap work being lead by DG ENER on low carbon energy systems is part of the Commission’s work plan for 2010  http://ec.europa.eu/atwork/programmes/docs/cwp2010_annex_en.pdf.