EU Energy System Integration strategy: EUROMOT underlines the potential of Internal Combustion Engines
EUROMOT welcomes the EU Commission’s strategy on Energy System Integration published on 8th July. We are convinced that a fully integrated energy system would be of paramount importance to reach the EU climate objectives and decarbonize the EU economy.
We are also convinced that Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) do represent an essential component of a truly integrated energy system, while providing critical security of energy supply, as we highlighted in our response (5th June 2020) to the Commission’s preliminary roadmap on this strategy.
Unfortunately, we observe that some main concerns we raised, specific to the sector of ICEs, are not reflected in the strategy, and should better be addressed in the follow-ups to the strategy expected in the coming months and years. In particular:
- Predictability and stability of fuel specifications: this is a key factor, valid for all ICE sectors and applications, that policy-makers should carefully consider;
- The role of ICEs to facilitate grid stabilization and the step-by-step integration of intermittent renewables in the electricity grid: this should be acknowledged as an essential element of a fully integrated energy system.
Moreover, the sector of heat/cooling supply was also mentioned in our June paper. Here, we would like to elaborate more on the role of cogeneration: Europe’s power plants with ICEs are mainly installed as cogeneration plants and achieve primary energy savings of 30 % and more (resulting in a total plant typical efficiency of up to 90 %). Combined with heat storage they are able to ensure full operating flexibility, while providing low-carbon, resource-efficient, reliable and affordable energy to EU citizens. Such principles are the basis of the whole EU energy and climate policy, and should play a key role within the transition to a EU integrated and decarbonized energy system.
For additional information and details regarding our concerns on this strategy, please see our June 2020 paper. EUROMOT will keep monitoring policy and regulatory developments in this area.
