SET Plan Conference 2018: Contribution by Johannes Reichl, Energieinstitute Linz

With the targets for 2030 for renewables and energy efficiency agreed, agreement on the other parts of the Clean Energy Package on the horizon, and the discussion on the EU’s long-term contribution to the Paris Agreement being launched with the 2050 strategy, the SET-Plan conference had many issues to discuss. Research and innovation, sector coupling, technology systems integration, and internationalization were highlighted to be a sine-qua-non for the energy transition to be successful, to meet the EU’s objectives for 2030 and 2050, and for the EU to develop cutting edge solutions on demand worldwide.

The meeting agreed that huge investments were required. The European Commission’s proposal for the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework for the EU puts these investments at its core, with a commitment to ensure that at least 25% of the budget would contribute to addressing energy and climate action.

Horizon Europe, the EU’s instrument to support Research and Innovation from 2021 to 2027, proposed a budget of 100 billion Euros, of which 35% to be invested in energy and climate action, and 15 billion Euros focusing on R&I in the energy and transport sectors as well as climate science. The conference took stock on progress towards the SET-Plan priorities and identified how Research and Innovation, at European and national level, publicly and privately funded, could contribute to the EU’s energy transition.

Special focus was given to key-issues, namely citizen engagement in energy transition, the industry role as a facilitator of clean energy, energy systems and networks, and renewable energy production for 2050.

Johannes Reichl from eseia member Energieinstitute Linz, gave a pitch talk on Horizon 2020 project “Personal Energy Administration Kiosk application” (PEAKapp) that he coordinates.

Johannes Reichl, scientific coordinator of the H2020 project PEAKapp. / Credits: eseia