E.ON SE

07/07/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/07/2021 07:30

E.ON backs EU plan to cut carbon emissions by 55 percent by 2030
  • 12 business leaders meet in Paris to discuss ways to further support the EU Green Deal
  • The European CEO Alliance believes that fighting climate change will require a collective effort by all EU member states and collaboration between the public sector and industry
  • A solid carbon pricing signal on the European level is regarded as a key to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 55 percent of 1990 levels by 2030
  • Several cross-sector projects and policy recommendations will further the global climate cause and foster sustainable growth and future-proof jobs

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  • 12 business leaders meet in Paris to discuss ways to further support the EU Green Deal
  • The European CEO Alliance believes that fighting climate change will require a collective effort by all EU member states and collaboration between the public sector and industry
  • A solid carbon pricing signal on the European level is regarded as a key to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 55 percent of 1990 levels by 2030
  • Several cross-sector projects and policy recommendations will further the global climate cause and foster sustainable growth and future-proof jobs

As the EU Commission prepares to present its "Fit for 55" legislative package, the European CEO Alliance has issued policy recommendations supporting a progressive and ambitious push to achieve climate neutrality. Tackling climate change requires strong collaboration between the public sector and industry, the Alliance announced after its meeting today in Paris. The Alliance would welcome a review of the EU's major regulatory instruments, in particular subsidies for technologies with high CO2emissions. The CEOs' proposals include sending a strong carbon pricing signal, accelerating measures to decarbonize mobility and transport, facilitating the transformation of the buildings sector and speeding up the restructuring and renewal of the energy system in all EU member states.


I am very pleased to have been able to exchange views today with the companies that provide solutions for the implementation of the Green Deal, the decarbonisation of the economy, green transition and energy efficiency. As the European Commission prepares to present its "Fit for 55" energy and climate package with measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent in 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, the mobilization of industrial and economic players will be essential to achieving our climate objectives together,said Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs in the French government.




E.ON CEO Leonhard Birnbaum: With the unique cross sector and cross country CEO Alliance we are able to make a difference. Our project within the CEO Alliance aims to establish European-wide markets for green hydrogen and its derivates, that makes green hydrogen the second energy carrier of the energy transition. With renewable energies in particular, in addition to the non-electrifiable applications, we are often faced with the fundamental challenge: They are available only when wind and sun allows.


With hydrogen as an energy carrier, we can store green energy and transport it to places where it is needed in hard to abate sectors, for example for the production of climate-neutral, so-called "green steel." Green hydrogen can also contribute to decarbonization in the heating sector, distributed via the widely ramified gas network. By using hydrogen, we are giving the process of decarbonization a significant boost.



As one central instrument, Alliance members proposed a strong carbon price signal to achieve the EU's climate targets. Carbon should have a price, no matter in which sector it is emitted. The Alliance also called for continued enhancement of the EU's Emissions Trading System (for power and heavy industry) and for the implementation of additional sector-specific cap-and-trade systems that would apply to mobility, transport and the buildings sector. Sector-specific systems could then converge beginning in 2030. Another proposal concerns a European carbon pricing system that would include measures to simultaneously achieve a social balance and emissions reduction.



Decarbonizing mobility, transport and buildings will be the major challenges. For the transport and mobility sector, electric mobility for passenger cars, light vehicles and heavy duty vehicles has proven to be the most efficient technology in terms of energy consumption and emission reduction. To foster the entire ecosystem around electric mobility, members of the CEO Alliance have initiated cross-sectoral projects to ramp up battery production and create a charging infrastructure across Europe.



Turning its attention to the EU Commission's Buildings Renovation Wave, the Alliance supports ambitious annual renovation targets to accelerate the sustainable transition of the building stock, in particular decarbonization. All new buildings should meet high standards regarding energy efficiency, renewables and sustainable materials. The Alliance also calls for fossil-fuel heating systems to be rapidly replaced by rolling out electric heat pumps, district heating and digital solutions. The CEOs are committed to applying this recommendation to their companies' own buildings.



The European climate targets require a rapid build-up of renewable power generation and the direct electrification of mobility, transport and heating/air conditioning for buildings. The CEO Alliance is working on a project to integrate power systems, in particular grids, in order to create a system based mainly on renewables and flexible solutions.


Background Information:



The CEO Alliance for Europe's Recovery, Reform and Resilience was formed in 2020 against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and the historic European Green Deal. The Alliance's shared goal is to make the EU the world's leading region for climate protection while unlocking investments, fueling innovations in new technologies and creating future-proof jobs.



The members view themselves as an "action tank," working together on cross-sector pan-European projects at scale: cross-EU charging infrastructure for heavy duty trucks, integration of EU power systems (in particular grids), digital carbon footprint tracking, sustainable and healthy buildings for the future of work and living, e-buses for Europe, green hydrogen value chains and the rapid development of battery production. Further projects are being prepared, including one involving low carbon steel. The CEOs will deliver their first tangible results and discuss implementation with high-level EU representatives at a summit set for autumn 2021.



The Alliance brings together 12 top executives from the energy, transport and technology industries: Björn Rosengren (ABB), Thierry Vanlancker (AkzoNobel), Francesco Starace (ENEL), Leonhard Birnbaum (E.ON), Börje Ekholm (Ericsson), Henrik Henriksson (H2GreenSteel), Ignacio Galán (Iberdrola), Frans van Houten (Philips), Christian Klein (SAP), Christian Levin (Scania), Jean-Pascale Tricoire (Schneider Electric) and Herbert Diess (Volkswagen). McKinsey & Company is serving as a knowledge contributor for the CEO Alliance and is providing additional research and data.


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As the EU Commission prepares to present its "Fit for 55" legislative package, the European CEO Alliance has issued policy recommendations supporting a progressive and ambitious push to achieve climate neutrality. Tackling climate change requires strong collaboration between the public sector and industry, the Alliance announced after its meeting today in Paris. The Alliance would welcome a review of the EU's major regulatory instruments, in particular subsidies for technologies with high CO2 emissions. The CEOs' proposals include sending a strong carbon pricing signal, accelerating measures to decarbonize mobility and transport, facilitating the transformation of the buildings sector and speeding up the restructuring and renewal of the energy system in all EU member states.

I am very pleased to have been able to exchange views today with the companies that provide solutions for the implementation of the Green Deal, the decarbonisation of the economy, green transition and energy efficiency. As the European Commission prepares to present its "Fit for 55" energy and climate package with measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent in 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, the mobilization of industrial and economic players will be essential to achieving our climate objectives together,said Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs in the French government.

E.ON CEO Leonhard Birnbaum:With the unique cross sector and cross country CEO Alliance we are able to make a difference. Our project within the CEO Alliance aims to establish European-wide markets for green hydrogen and its derivates, that makes green hydrogen the second energy carrier of the energy transition. With renewable energies in particular, in addition to the non-electrifiable applications, we are often faced with the fundamental challenge: They are available only when wind and sun allows.

With hydrogen as an energy carrier, we can store green energy and transport it to places where it is needed in hard to abate sectors, for example for the production of climate-neutral, so-called "green steel." Green hydrogen can also contribute to decarbonization in the heating sector, distributed via the widely ramified gas network. By using hydrogen, we are giving the process of decarbonization a significant boost.

As one central instrument, Alliance members proposed a strong carbon price signal to achieve the EU's climate targets. Carbon should have a price, no matter in which sector it is emitted. The Alliance also called for continued enhancement of the EU's Emissions Trading System (for power and heavy industry) and for the implementation of additional sector-specific cap-and-trade systems that would apply to mobility, transport and the buildings sector. Sector-specific systems could then converge beginning in 2030. Another proposal concerns a European carbon pricing system that would include measures to simultaneously achieve a social balance and emissions reduction.

Decarbonizing mobility, transport and buildings will be the major challenges. For the transport and mobility sector, electric mobility for passenger cars, light vehicles and heavy duty vehicles has proven to be the most efficient technology in terms of energy consumption and emission reduction. To foster the entire ecosystem around electric mobility, members of the CEO Alliance have initiated cross-sectoral projects to ramp up battery production and create a charging infrastructure across Europe.

Turning its attention to the EU Commission's Buildings Renovation Wave, the Alliance supports ambitious annual renovation targets to accelerate the sustainable transition of the building stock, in particular decarbonization. All new buildings should meet high standards regarding energy efficiency, renewables and sustainable materials. The Alliance also calls for fossil-fuel heating systems to be rapidly replaced by rolling out electric heat pumps, district heating and digital solutions. The CEOs are committed to applying this recommendation to their companies' own buildings.

The European climate targets require a rapid build-up of renewable power generation and the direct electrification of mobility, transport and heating/air conditioning for buildings. The CEO Alliance is working on a project to integrate power systems, in particular grids, in order to create a system based mainly on renewables and flexible solutions.

Background Information:

The CEO Alliance for Europe's Recovery, Reform and Resilience was formed in 2020 against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and the historic European Green Deal. The Alliance's shared goal is to make the EU the world's leading region for climate protection while unlocking investments, fueling innovations in new technologies and creating future-proof jobs.

The members view themselves as an "action tank," working together on cross-sector pan-European projects at scale: cross-EU charging infrastructure for heavy duty trucks, integration of EU power systems (in particular grids), digital carbon footprint tracking, sustainable and healthy buildings for the future of work and living, e-buses for Europe, green hydrogen value chains and the rapid development of battery production. Further projects are being prepared, including one involving low carbon steel. The CEOs will deliver their first tangible results and discuss implementation with high-level EU representatives at a summit set for autumn 2021.

The Alliance brings together 12 top executives from the energy, transport and technology industries: Björn Rosengren (ABB), Thierry Vanlancker (AkzoNobel), Francesco Starace (ENEL), Leonhard Birnbaum (E.ON), Börje Ekholm (Ericsson), Henrik Henriksson (H2GreenSteel), Ignacio Galán (Iberdrola), Frans van Houten (Philips), Christian Klein (SAP), Christian Levin (Scania), Jean-Pascale Tricoire (Schneider Electric) and Herbert Diess (Volkswagen). McKinsey & Company is serving as a knowledge contributor for the CEO Alliance and is providing additional research and data.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by E.ON Group Management and other information currently available to E.ON. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. E.ON SE does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to align them to future events or developments.


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This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by E.ON Group Management and other information currently available to E.ON. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. E.ON SE does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to align them to future events or developments.