Renewable technologies in the EU electricity sector: trends and projections: Analysis in the framework of the EU 2030 climate and energy strategy

With the ratification of the COP 21 Paris climate agreement, EU climate change policy entered a new phase with more ambitious climate and energy goals for 2030. The EU electricity sector is witnessing its greatest transformation to date because of the rapid deployment of renewables in the form of wind power and solar photovoltaic (PV). Wind and solar PV have been at the forefront of recent growth in renewables-based capacity, although biomass is by far the largest source of renewables-based energy consumption in the EU today. In 2016, installed wind-power capacity surpassed the capacity of both coal and lignite and became the second biggest electricity source in the EU. In the same year, renewables accounted for nearly 86 % of new electricity capacity. The pace of progress for solar PV since 2010 has been impressive: it achieved in 5 years what was expected to take 15 years. The costs of producing electricity using these technologies have decreased rapidly in recent years. The costs of PV electricity have dropped to less than 0.03 EUR/kWh, making it the technology with the lowest electricity generation costs. To understand what EU renewable electricity is projected to look like in the future, our analysis is based on scenarios that are an essential part of European Commission impact assessments. These scenarios assume that the EU reached its greenhouse gas reduction targets as stated in the 2030 energy and climate strategy and as committed to in the COP21 following a cost-optimal approach. To reach the 30 % overall renewable energy target, in 2030 the EU needs to meet 54 % of its gross electricity generation needs using renewable technologies. It also needs to increase its current final consumption of renewable energy and installed capacity, by 68 % and 75 %, respectively. Towards the 2030 target the PRIMES EUCO projections rely mostly in the deployment of solar technology. Its share in final renewable electricity capacity is projected to reach at least 36%. The PRIMES climate mitigation scenarios (EUCO scenarios) project that wind will be the second biggest source of gross electricity generation in the EU in 2030, accounting for 24 % of gross electricity generation and 45 % of final renewable electricity.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Two historical changes in the narrative of energy forecasts

A collection of 417 energy scenarios was assembled and harmonized to compare what they said about nuclear, fossil and renewable energy thirty years from their publication. Based on data analysis, we divide the recent history of the energy forecasting in three periods. The first is defined by a decline in nuclear optimism, approximately until 1990. The second by a stability of forecasts, approximately until 2005. The third by a rise in the forecasted share of renewable energy sources. We also find that forecasts tend to cohere, that is they have a low dispersion within periods compared to the change across periods

A new class of glycomimetic drugs to prevent free fatty acid-induced endothelial dysfunction

Background: Carbohydrates play a major role in cell signaling in many biological processes. We have developed a set of glycomimetic drugs that mimic the structure of carbohydrates and represent a novel source of therapeutics for endothelial dysfunction, a key initiating factor in cardiovascular complications. Purpose: Our objective was to determine the protective effects of small molecule glycomimetics against free fatty acid­induced endothelial dysfunction, focusing on nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress pathways. Methods: Four glycomimetics were synthesized by the stepwise transformation of 2,5­dihydroxybenzoic acid to a range of 2,5­substituted benzoic acid derivatives, incorporating the key sulfate groups to mimic the interactions of heparan sulfate. Endothelial function was assessed using acetylcholine­induced, endotheliumdependent relaxation in mouse thoracic aortic rings using wire myography. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) behavior was evaluated in the presence or absence of the free fatty acid, palmitate, with or without glycomimetics (1µM). DAF­2 and H2DCF­DA assays were used to determine nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, respectively. Lipid peroxidation colorimetric and antioxidant enzyme activity assays were also carried out. RT­PCR and western blotting were utilized to measure Akt, eNOS, Nrf­2, NQO­1 and HO­1 expression. Results: Ex vivo endothelium­dependent relaxation was significantly improved by the glycomimetics under palmitate­induced oxidative stress. In vitro studies showed that the glycomimetics protected HUVECs against the palmitate­induced oxidative stress and enhanced NO production. We demonstrate that the protective effects of pre­incubation with glycomimetics occurred via upregulation of Akt/eNOS signaling, activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway, and suppression of ROS­induced lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: We have developed a novel set of small molecule glycomimetics that protect against free fatty acidinduced endothelial dysfunction and thus, represent a new category of therapeutic drugs to target endothelial damage, the first line of defense against cardiovascular disease

Biomass for energy in the EU – The support framework

This paper aims to produce a quantitative approach on the overall measures and on public support framework for biomass for energy, based on the EU countries reports under RED and existing literature. The way in which the support for biomass is implemented in the EU energy sector is not similar across EU countries. Feed-in tariffs and feed-in-premiums are still the dominant support schemes for the deployment of bioelectricity, whereas subsidies remain the main support for bioheat. Furthermore, a vast number of EU countries apply mandatory blending quotas for biofuels for transport. The paper shows that biomass for energy has a key role within the EU policy support for RES, in which targets are the main drivers, together with overarching biomass guidelines to anticipate any environmental constraints. Stable support showed the highest effectiveness in the past and remains the key factor for biomass deployment beyond 2020. The renewed targets need to be accompanied by long-term support measures and a commonly shared policy vision. A further harmonization of public bioenergy support towards a single EU cleaner energy market is recommended. This implies four policy actions for all EU countries: in-depth efficiency review, integration with RED-2, compatible sustainability guidelines and local impact assessments.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable