EC amends clean energy regulations
EC amends clean energy regulations
An important European Commission ( EC ) clean energy regulation has been widened to encourage EU member states to roll-out clean energy infrastructure on the rail network .
The EC ’ s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation ( AFIR ) originally targeted electric recharging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for the road , maritime and inland ports detectors , as well as electricity supply to stationary aircraft . Now , it also includes rail .
The move will speed progress on EU Green Deal objectives , a set of EC policy initiatives whose aim is to make the EU climate neutral by 2050 .
Under the regulation change , EU member states can assess the development of alternative fuel technologies and propulsion systems for rail sections that cannot be fully electrified for technical or costefficiency reasons .
At present , 80 % of train-kilometres in Europe run on electric energy , a growing part of which comes from renewable sources . However , just 54 % of the European rail network is currently electrified .
dependence on critical supplies , where the lack of even one essential item can hold up work on an entire project , which can be costly at a time of high demand .
Clean energy ‘ all about the tech ’ One of the report ’ s co-authors , Global Renewable Energy Lead , Steven Munday , says the key thing to bear in mind about renewable energy is that “ it ’ s no longer a power sector but a technology sector ”.
Speaking as part of a WTW podcast on renewable energy , he adds : “ Renewable energy technology is moving ahead incredibly quickly . That does impact throughout its lifecycle in terms of origination , procurement , construction , and operations .”