High energy prices show need for green transition, says EU's Timmermans

The record-high energy prices in EU countries only further demonstrate that the bloc must accelerate its move away from fossil fuels and towards green energy, the European Union's top climate official has said.

Wholesale European power prices have doubled this year, driven by factors including soaring coal and gas prices, surging CO2 prices and lower than usual renewable energy output. 

The EU's Green Deal seeks to overhaul the bloc's economy to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 - a goal that will require huge investments in low-carbon power and infrastructure.

Read more: Biomass and its role in the energy transition

"Had we had the Green Deal five years earlier, we would not be in this position because then we would have less dependence on fossil fuels and on natural gas," European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Timmermans said that even as fossil fuel prices have soared, costs for renewable generation have remained low and stable.

That should encourage the EU to speed up its green transition, to ensure more citizens have access to affordable renewable energy, he said.

European carbon prices, which also impact the cost of electricity, have also surged to record highs this year, but Timmermans said they were not the main culprit for soaring energy costs.

"Only about one-fifth of the [power] price increase can be attributed to CO2 prices rising," he said.

Read more: Making net-zero possible

The EU carbon benchmark contract is trading at around 61 euros ($72.01) a tonne, not far off an all-time high set this month as more ambitious EU climate targets have helped buoy prices.

A Bank of Spain analysis published last month said that gas prices were responsible for roughly half of the recent surge in Spanish electricity prices, while carbon had caused a fifth of the power price increase. 

To bring down soaring power costs, the Spanish government said this week it would cap gas prices, cut taxes and redirect energy company profits. It also plans to auction 3.3 gigawatts of renewable capacity, betting that building out clean energy will lower prices in the long term.

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