NVDE: Europe needs to push through with electri­fi­ca­tion plan

For many food companies, sustainability revolves around practical questions. Is there enough grid capacity? Will energy remain affordable? And when does investing in electric heat, storage, or cooling actually pay off? The European Electrification Action Plan addresses those exact bottlenecks. According to the NVDE, Europe is heading in the right direction. Now execution must follow.

Less dependent on fossil fuels

The Dutch Renewable Energy Association (NVDE) welcomes the European Commission's plan. The plan connects reduced fossil fuel imports to lower energy costs. It is also meant to strengthen the European economy.

The urgency is high. More than half of European energy consumption consists of imported fossil fuels. During the recent Middle East crisis, Europe spent an additional €50 billion on fossil energy imports in 111 days.

There is another side to this. By now, 70 percent of European electricity comes from clean European sources. The Commission therefore wants to reach 46 percent electrification by 2040. Right now, the share of electricity has been stuck at 23 percent for ten years.

Price holds back investment

According to the NVDE, technology is not the primary obstacle. Pricing gets in the way of businesses and households. On average, electricity in Europe is nearly three times as expensive as gas.

That makes investing in heat pumps, electric industrial processes, and electric transport harder. The NVDE therefore supports proposals to reassess taxes, grid tariffs, and fossil subsidies.

Storage, flexibility, and better grid utilization are also necessary. In addition, the plan targets 200 GW of storage capacity by 2030.

Industry asks for clear policy

For industry, the plan includes support for electrification, heating projects, storage, and grid connections. Industrial flexibility and waste heat are also addressed.

The NVDE does warn against weakening the European Emissions Trading System. A strong ETS makes investments in electrification profitable. Faster permitting, grid expansion, and demand for sustainable products remain necessary, according to the association.

“It now comes down to executing this plan decisively,” says Marc Londo, Content Director at NVDE.

Nvde.nl