The question of European energy transition and the potential of new energy technologies was at the heart of the informal meeting of Energy Ministers held yesterday, 23 September 2015.
Discussions centered around three componenets, these being economic opportunities offered by European energy transiition, potential synergies between energy policies and development aid policies and the issue of investment in the energy sector.
Energy is becomingly an increasingly important topic in the countdown to the COP21 Climate Change conference in Paris this December, with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Economy, Étienne Schneider emphasising after the informal meeting that renewable and efficient energy, infrastructure and 'intelligent' technoologies, as well as sustainable technologies in the field of transport "are the key to the future in the sector".
The Minister also stated that he was confident of "strong growth potential and job creation" in the energy sector.
Several experts innovators and pioneers within the energy industry were present at the meeting, among them Elon Musk, who has initiated projects such as SpaceX, SolarCity and PayPal, and is the current CEO of Tesla, a world leader in the construction of high-end electric cars.
Also in attendance were economist and sociologist Jeremy Rifkin and Bertran Piccard, co-founder of the renewable energy promotion project, 'Solar Impulse'. The Deputy Prime Minister commented that these business owners "are living proof that energy transition is not an obstacle to economic development, but on the contrary, can drive it".
Adnan Z. Amin of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Jean-Louis Borloo, Chair of the Energie pour l'Afrique foundation, also shared their experiences concerning the matter of helping one billion people who lack access to electricity to forego fossil fuels and instead jump straight to a cheaper, cleaner and more adaptable energy form.
The Ministers present also discussed the issue of energy investment, stressing the need to ensure that the Juncker investment plan helps boost investments in the energy sector.
Photo by eu2015 (Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Economy of Luxembourg, Étienne Schneider)
