European Energy Industry Locked in the Past, Says Greenpeace

Greenpeace recently published a new report on the European energy situation, investigating the EU renewable energy targets, politics and the energy industry.

“As the political battle for 2030 policy heats up, some of Europe’s largest power companies want the EU to drop renewable energy and energy efficiency targets and instead restrict measures to a single carbon reduction target. They believe this would allow them the flexibility to continue generating power from large-scale coal, gas and nuclear plants. Additional targets for renewables and efficiency would threaten their traditional business models and foster investments in renewable energy and efficiency technologies,” the organization stated.

“Locked in the past: why Europe’s big energy companies fear change investigates the real reasons for the opposition to renewable energy by big utilities. It looks into the their failure to adapt to changing market conditions and argues the EU should shepherd companies towards more economically sustainable business models that are consistent with energy and climate change policies. To help achieve this, the EU should pursue its three target approach for 2030,” Greenpeace summarizes.

Source: Greenpeace, March 5, 2014; Image: ©Paul Langrock / Zenit/ Greenpeace