Brussels wants to support 166 energy infrastructure projects

More than half of the projects (85) concern electricity transmission, in particular to connect offshore wind farms or build intelligent networks which will allow electricity flows to be adjusted in real time. They are expected to be put into service between 2027 and 2030.

Some 65 projects focus on hydrogen and electrolyzers that will produce this gas from clean energy, a key sector for the decarbonization of industry.

Finally, the list includes 14 CO2 network projects to help create a market for carbon capture and storage.

This is the sixth list of projects of "common interest" presented by the Commission but the first to exclude fossil fuels, the EU having decided to no longer support projects linked to hydrocarbons.

The European Union has set itself the objective of reaching 42,5% of renewable energy in European consumption by 2030, compared to a current level of around 22%. This should help the Twenty-Seven in their ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 before achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

“The list of cross-border projects presented today draws the new energy map of Europe. The era of European financing of infrastructure linked to fossil fuels is over,” said Kadri Simson, Energy Commissioner.

“It is time to invest in energy infrastructure suited to a more flexible, decentralized and digitalized system, where consumers are also producers – and where most of our energy comes from renewable sources,” she added. .

The list presented on Tuesday includes cross-border infrastructure on EU territory, but also for the first time certain projects with third countries. It must still be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, the body of the member states, within two months.

The European Commission estimates that 584 billion euros will be needed to invest between now and 2030 to develop and modernize Europe's electricity networks in order to adapt them to the growth of wind and solar power as well as increased electricity consumption. expected to increase by 60% over this period.