The key role of sufficiency for low demand-based carbon neutrality and energy security across Europe
A detailed assessment of a low energy demand, 1.5 <sup>∘</sup>C compatible pathway is provided for Europe from a bottom-up, country scale modelling perspective. The level of detail enables a clear representation of the potential of sufficiency measures. Results show that by 2050, 50% final energy demand reduction compared to 2019 is possible in Europe, with at least 40% of it attributable to various sufficiency measures across all sectors. This reduction enables a 77% renewable energy share in 2040 and 100% in 2050, with very limited need for imports from outside of Europe and no carbon sequestration technologies. Sufficiency enables increased fairness between countries through the convergence towards a more equitable share of energy service levels. Here we show, that without sufficiency measures, Europe misses the opportunity to transform energy demand leaving considerable pressure on supply side changes combined with unproven carbon removal technologies.
Authors
- Emile Balembois (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3731-4335)
- Paolo Thiran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6125-7115)
- Yves Marignac (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7629-5075)
- Sylvain Quoilin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2064-209X)
- Nicolas Taillard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3662-494X)
- Bendix Vogel
- Carina Zell-Ziegler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4958-8496)
- Johannes Thema (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7039-483X)
- Andrea Roscetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2628-4294)
- Mathilde Djelali
- Frauke Wiese (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9101-3605)
- Sébastien Meyer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2650-2249)
- Lorenzo Pagliano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8962-0422)
- Béla Munkácsy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4207-1299)
- Luisa Cordroch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1439-4517)
- Benjamin Best (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3487-5492)
- José Joaquín Campos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5793-0776)
- Elliott Johnson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9196-6622)
- Arturo Jacob (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5134-6338)
- Adrien Toledano
- Stephane Bourgeois (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9546-9748)
- Alexandre Gabert
Institutions
- Eötvös Loránd University (HU)
- University of Leeds (GB)
- University of Liège (BE)
- Europa-Universität Flensburg (DE)
- Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy (DE)
- Oeko Institut (DE)
- Technische Universität Berlin (DE)
- Università della Svizzera italiana (CH)
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (DE)
- Politecnico di Milano (IT)
- UCLouvain (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2024-10-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-53393-0
- Citations
- 36
- Primary Topic
- Integrated Energy Systems Optimization
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 7.51
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation
- European Commission
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Agence de la transition écologique
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council