As European countries position themselves as global climate leaders at COP29 – and coinciding with the thematic Energy Day today (15th November) – a new briefing from Beyond Fossil Fuels reveals the stark overbuild of gas power plants across six EU countries that threatens to undermine their climate commitments and lock-in fossil fuels for decades.
More Gas on Borrowed Time: Where Europe’s Climate Pledges and Gas Power Plans Collide, reveals European nations currently plan to add 80 gigawatts (GW) of new gas power capacity, an increase of 32% compared to current capacity.
Italy, the UK, and Germany – already responsible for 45% of Europe’s gas power capacity – are planning half of these additions despite having pledged to decarbonise their electricity systems.
The UK’s clean power by 2030 target is the most ambitious, and the country’s National Energy System Operator (NESO) confirmed last week that it is achievable without expanding the gas fleet capacity beyond 2023 levels.
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