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Go RES or Go Slow? How Geopolitics and Policy Ambition Shape Europe’s Future Energy System

Abstract

This paper presents quantitative scenario results for the European Energy Vision 2060 (EU-EnVis-2060) and discusses implications for the evolution of the European energy system and infrastructure. Four coordinated pathways are explored: EU Trinity, NECP Essentials, REPowerEU++, and Go RES, which span different combinations of policy ambition, technological progress, and geopolitical stability while remaining rooted in EU frameworks such as the Green Deal, Fit-for-55, REPowerEU and updated NECPs. All scenarios are quantified with the open-source, sector-coupled energy system model GENeSYS-MOD. Results show strong electrification in all pathways, but with markedly different transition speeds, technology portfolios, and flexibility strategies. Three scenarios reach carbon neutrality by 2060, while EU Trinity falls short despite high electrification. Go RES represents an early-transition pathway, relying on rapid VRE expansion supported by transmission build-out and hydrogen-based flexibility, whereas slower pathways depend more on electricity storage and retain transitional fuels for longer.

Category

Academic chapter

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Nikita Moskalenko
  • Konstantin Löffler
  • Mostafa Barani
  • Sandrine Charousset
  • Siri Gulaker Mathisen
  • Pedro Andres Crespo del Granado

Affiliation

  • SINTEF Energy Research / Renewable Energy
  • EDF
  • Technical University Berlin
  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Year

2026

Publisher

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

Book

2026 22nd International Conference on the European Energy Market - EEM

ISBN

9798319535542

View this publication at Norwegian Research Information Repository