DÉCARBONATION

ENGIE presents its 2050 energy transition scenario for Europe

Updated on 21 September 2023

With our strong international presence and experience across various decarbonization levers, we today share our vision of the energy transition in Europe and France. 
ENGIE’s decarbonization scenario highlights the need to work with all sources of renewable energy, to ensure the resilience of the energy system and the competitiveness of European economies.

 

Our approach and vision

Given the strong interconnection of energy systems across Europe, the decarbonization scenario integrates 15 European countries (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, United Kingdom. The scenario takes into account all decarbonization levers with sufficiently mature technologies.

Our scenario is underpinned by respect for 3 criteria: alignment with the European Climate ambition, optimizing costs for the wider community, and guaranteeing the safety of the energy system. By weighing up every possible solution against these three criteria the new pathway we are forging capitalizes on the most relevant existing decarbonization levers, while leaving room for emergent technologies. It is an approach that is both pragmatic and systemic.

over-the-years-image

“The magnitude and urgency of the energy transition makes it an unprecedented challenge for Europe. At ENGIE, it is at the heart of our corporate purpose, our strategy and everything that we do. At a time when the debate on energy planning is gaining traction in Europe, we wanted to share our convictions on what we believe to be the most realistic pathway.
A successful transition means achieving net zero carbon while ensuring that the cost to citizens and businesses is kept under control, developing a robust and reliable energy system. To achieve this, we are convinced of the need to exploit all levers for decarbonization. The combination of the molecule and the electron is the answer to these challenges on a national and European scale”

Catherine MacGregor, Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE

The alliance between the electron and the molecule : the answer for an affordable and reliable energy transition.

 

Our scenario in a nutshell: 
 

  • All current levers and those under development must be activated to make “Net zero emissions” a reality in under 30 years. 
     
  • To meet European climate commitments, there is a need to step up efforts on energy conservation and energy efficiency, with the aim of achieving a 34% reduction in energy consumption by 2050.
     
  • A very significant acceleration in the growth of renewable energies, primarily electric (wind and solar power) is essential to reach European climate targets and limit costs.
     
  • Flexibility technologies (battery storage, pumped storage, combined-cycle gas turbines) will play a central role in the energy system in the context of the growth of renewable energies. Additional capacity of 600 GW must be developed (a circa 4-fold increase on current capacity). 
     
  • Methane will be fully decarbonized by 2050 and will play a key role in the energy transition. The demand for methane will be halved in France and in the rest of Europe. In France, biomethane will play a dominant role, accounting for 2/3 of demand in 2050. The biomass potential in France is sufficient to cover the need for solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels. 
     
  • Decarbonized hydrogen and molecules produced from hydrogen (e-molecules) will play a key role in transports and for certain industrial uses. Demand for hydrogen and e-molecules – driven by the need to decarbonize heavy-duty transport and industry – will increase 8-fold by 2050 (75% for transport and 25% for the industrial sectors most difficult to decarbonize, such as steel). Almost half of this hydrogen will be produced locally. 
     
  • Investment in electricity infrastructures will increase massively, while existing gas infrastructures can be adapted to a totally carbon-free energy mix at limited cost. Minimising the cost of the energy transition, they meet the challenges of peak demand and energy system flexibility.

 

Discover our scenario in video

Key figures for the scenario in europe from 2023 through 2050

  • Energy Consumption: - 34%
  • Electricity Consumption: x 1.8
  • Solar photovoltaic and wind farm electricity production: x 6
  • Flexibility needs: + 600 GW
  • Methane consumption: ÷ 2
  • Demand for hydrogen: x 8
  • Biomethane and biogas production: x 4.6


Further information

The scenario in a nutshell

NEW - Detailed scenario

Press release

Presentation of the event

Watch the replay of the event

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