Cabinet of Commissioner Kadri SIMSON - Minutes of Meeting
Ref. Ares(2020)7906432 - 23/12/2020
MEETING CONCLUSIONS
Title
Meeting between Commissioner Kadri Simson and ENGIE representatives
Date
07/07/2020
Participants
Ext :
COM: Commissioner Simson ; Thor-Sten Vertmann ;
Ares initial request : (2020)707043
Disclosure authorization : ܆ YES - ܆ NO - ܆ Partial (pls highlight unauthorized parts)
Issues raised
Points of discussion
& follow-up
Commissioner Simson:
•
Commission will adopt Energy System Integration and Hydrogen strategies tomorrow /
8 July.
•
ESI as the roadmap for energy policy of the current Commission.
•
Three pillars: energy efficiency and circularity; electrification; renewable fuels for hard
to electrify sectors.
•
Other priorities by end-year: Offshore; Renovation Wave.
Claire Waysand:
•
ENGIE’s views are largely converging with views expressed in ESI and H2 strategies.
•
ENGIE is very involved in the development of biomethane and green hydrogen. Also
renewable electricity and nuclear.
•
We have to be careful about the role of electricity in heating. Risks of increasing peak
demand.
•
In the short run, natural gas plays a role to decarbonise our system – in those countries
operating coal plants.
•
Need for a proper regulatory framework and funding framework at EU level to support
the deployment of green gases, especially biomethane. Also in the short-term context of post-
Covid recovery. There are strong pipelines of projects ready to start in several EU MS.
•
Overall, best trajectory to decarbonisation is to rely on “both feet”, electricity and gas.
Taxonomy should recognize that.
•
The framework should enable a variety of technologies to grow and compete.
•
ENGIE supports a floor for carbon pricing. The mechanism should be robust and simple.
Not needed to create new tools, new taxes, but use existing instruments.