ATA Insights Newsletter [ENG] 16 of July 21

Hi,

I hope all is well at your end!

The biggest news this week is the announcement of the much awaited “Fit for 55” ?? package by the European Commission. Contrary to first impressions, Fit for 55 isn’t a coaching program aimed at 55 year olds who want to improve their attractiveness (as this article suggests ??). Rather, it’s a series of measures aimed at reducing the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Reactions are mixed, as could be expected from such wide-ranging measures. European solar, wind and hydrogen associations are positive. On the other hand, the steel industry fears that not enough measures have been put in place to protect European steel from unfair competition by foreign steelmakers not subject to higher carbon prices. The auto industry is also disappointed at the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035. Environmental group BirdLife has criticised the new package for labelling “the burning of trees as sustainable”, putting Europe’s forests at risk. Many have pointed out that these measures should be carefully applied to protect the most vulnerable groups and avoid social unrest. As Brussels outsider, my impression is that there is much room for exemptions and negotiation on these measures, so expect some furious lobbying in the years to come.

?? New York Times: How Europe’s Ambitious New Climate Agenda Will Affect Businesses. Find out more

Bruegel: Fit for 55 marks Europe’s climate moment of truth. Learn more

?? Politico: Brussels takes the lead in global battle to end greenhouse emissions. Full article

?? Solar Power Europe: Fit for a Solar Future: Commission climate package is landmark achievement but more ambition is possible. Read on

?? Wind Europe: It’s official: The EU Commission wants 30 GW a year of new wind up to 2030. Full press release

??Hydrogen Europe: Fit for 55: The Time for Hydrogen is Now. Learn more

?? EEB: EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ is unfit and unfair as consumer, not polluters, would end up paying for emissions. Read on

?? BirdLife: EU Commission labels burning trees for energy ‘sustainable’ - 97% of European forests could be at risk of destruction. More info

?? Steel Industry: A fine balance: Fit for 55 must help decarbonisation of EU steel and prevent carbon leakage effectively. More info

??♂?Automotive industry: lobby groups criticise combustion engine ban. More info

?? “In the coming years, there will be a lot of lobbying for exceptions and subsidies. We must ensure that the final package does not become a measure for nothing” Read on

RENEWABLE HYDROGEN

?? Can renewable hydrogen beat grey hydrogen on price? Read the full article

?? ENI signs agreement with Egyptian government to produce and export green and blue hydrogen. Find out more

??? W?rtsil? working on pure hydrogen/ammonia combustion engines. Find out more

?ArcelorMittal, Spanish govt unveil EUR-1bn plan for greener steel. Read on

?AFRICA

?? Africa's top emitter seeks $10 billion for shift from coal. Eskom seeks funding to wean itself off coal by 2050. More info here

??Banning fossil fuels in sub-Saharan Africa could slow the transition to renewable energy. Read on

?EUROPE

?? “Solar Power Around the Clock” report released by the German Association for Concentrated Solar Power (DCSP). Access to full article

?? UK: How flooded coal mines could heat homes. A quarter of the UK's homes sit above abandoned coal mines, long since flooded with water. Now, the mines are being put to a new, zero-carbon use. Read on

REST OF THE WORLD

? Solar energy heats up job market across the globe. Find out more

??? Singapore unveils one of the world’s largest floating solar farms. Read on

??♂? Companies that say they want to stop climate change aren’t doing enough, according to a new report. Read about it here

? Microsoft is changing the way it buys renewable energy. It’s putting more pressure on local power grids to get clean. Find out more

?A round of applause for our sponsors ?? GoodWe, PV Hardware and SQM ??, without them this newsletter wouldn’t be possible.

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That’s all folks, see you in a couple of weeks. ??