Is the TEN-E Regulation Fit for a Decarbonized Future? A Battle to Shape the European Energy Transition Briefings de l'Ifri, June 9, 2021
The European Union’s energy infrastructure policy has become obsolete with the adoption of both the Green Deal and the 2050 climate neutrality target. The ongoing review of the regulation on Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E) should lead to an-depth discussion on Europe’s energy transition strategy.
• The TEN-E regulation has streamlined the planning of European Union (EU) cross-border infrastructures and accelerated their development. It has been deeply rooted in a security of supply paradigm, at the expense of sustainability objectives.
• With the TEN-E revision proposal, the European Commission (EC) promotes its own vision of Europe’s future energy system and prioritizes efficient system integration and electrification for decarbonization.
• To overcome Europe’s divide on the role of gases, the TEN-E should opt for a case-by-case approach and require that all gas-related Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) be approved by the new European Scientific Advisory on Climate Change.
• Debates on gas should not overshadow what the TEN-E revision primarily aims to achieve: accelerating the electricity sector decarbonization by taking up the challenge of acceptability, financing the infrastructure investment gap and minimizing the costs for consumers.