Energy Stories: an Example of How to Bring Europe’s Energy Transition Developments to Citizens

The European Technology and Innovation Platform Smart Networks for Energy Transition (ETIP SNET) is launching a series of short stories on successful energy transition technologies to inform citizens and facilitate their involvement in the European energy system of the future.

Since 2014, the strategy of the European Union has been clear: we need to drive a clean, secure and efficient energy transition to tackle climate and energy challenges. This strategy has been reinforced by the strong commitment of the European Union towards the landmark Paris Agreement. It is also why in November 2016 the Commission proposed an ambitious “Clean Energy for All Europeans” package.

It is in everyone’s long-term interest to have a rapid transition towards a cleaner, more sustainable and less carbon-intensive energy future. Indeed, many projects across Europe are developing the necessary technologies to make Europe’s transition to greener energy as smooth and effective as possible.

In 2016, the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE) joined a unique cooperation between key energy sector players formed under the ETIP SNET umbrella to foster a European energy transition in line with the Paris Agreement targets. As stated in the ETIP SNET Vision 2050 where EASE has been a major contributor through its involvement in particular in Working group 2 on Storage Technologies and sector interfaces, meeting Europe’s clean energy needs will require major investments for the large-scale deployment of energy conversion and storage devices, the upgrade and extension of the energy networks, and the use of digital solutions.

While policy makers, industry and researchers need to lead the way and lay the foundations for the transition towards a cleaner energy system, the citizen is the fundamental player that will make this transition possible. As ETIP SNET Chairman Nikos Hatziargyriou said:
“It is citizens that have the potential to play a key role in Europe’s energy transition and change the course of current climate change trends. Informed of the latest technological developments, (citizens) have the power to shape their energy behaviour (or profile) so that they will not only meet their energy needs in a more efficient and cost-effective way, but also determine the greening of the energy system as a whole.”

Through its involvement in the ETIP SNET, EASE participated in the development of the “ETIP SNET Energy Stories”. These stories are designed to bring successful applications in energy transition technologies, often developed through public funding, closer to the citizen, highlighting whenever possible the direct benefits of the latest technologies to the energy consumer.

More about the ETIP SNET: www.etip-snet.eu