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Report: European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) - Towards a low carbon future

Website: ec.europa.eu/energy/technology/set_plan/set_plan_en.htm

The SET-Plan, adopted by the Council of the European Union in February 2008, is a first step to establish an energy technology policy for Europe and serves as the principal decision-making support tool for European energy policy, with the ambition to:

accelerate knowledge development, technology transfer and up-take;
maintain EU industrial leadership on low carbon energy technologies;
foster science for transforming energy technologies to achieve our Energy and Climate Change goals for 2020; and
contribute to the worldwide transition to a low carbon economy by 2050.

Via the SET-Plan, the Commission presents a strategic plan to accelerate the development and deployment of cost-effective low carbon technologies. This plan comprises measures relating to planning, implementation, resources and international cooperation in the field of energy technology.

Four European Industrial Initiatives of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan were launched on 3 June 2010 in Madrid (see: ec.europa.eu/energy/technology/initiatives/initiatives_en.htm)

Wind
Solar (Photovoltaics & Concentrated Solar Power)
Electricity Grids
Carbon Capture & Storage

During the event, both the public and private sector engaged in the adventure of accelerating the development of low carbon technologies.

By doing so, the European Commission, the Presidency of the European Union (Spain), the co-Chairs and Members of the SET-Plan Steering Group, and high-level representatives of the 4 industries have agreed to support:

Technology Roadmaps (2010-2020) including concrete action plans to develop the technologies and improve their competitiveness,
Implementation Plans which focus on the priority actions for 2010-2012 and
light and non-bureaucratic governance structure that involves all of us while preserving full sovereignty over the use of our own resources.

The next step will be to put into operation the actions envisaged by the four sectors. Effective European projects which will make better use of public and private resources and get the most out of them will be developed. These projects will bring the technological competitiveness to the European industries and will pave the way towards a European low carbon economy.

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