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Which are the main energy transition related challenges that require immediate action at the European level?

鈥業n recent years, we have seen a shift. Whereas in 2019, several youth organizations were firmly putting climate change on the agenda, the topic has long since fallen out of the top three priorities for most people. We need to change the narrative. I now often refer to the Green Deal as the Freedom Deal: the energy transition is necessary to safeguard our sovereignty and reduce our dependence on geopolitical developments. The sooner we achieve energy independence, the better. This requires three things: we must use the available energy more efficiently, we must diversify our energy supply, and we need much more energy to be produced in Europe.鈥�

On what kinds of topics is Europe currently developing policies?

鈥榃e are looking at how we can speed up the expansion of the electricity grid. For example, we鈥檙e temporarily waiving the nitrogen emission limits for energy-related building activities. With the Industrial Accelerator Act, we are strengthening European industries that are lagging behind. For the energy market, this means, for example, that we support manufacturers of heat pumps, electrolysers, and batteries. And with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) 鈥� for which I am the rapporteur鈥� we have expanded the 鈥減olluter pays鈥� principle to suppliers from outside the EU, who now have to meet the same climate standards and pay the same carbon taxes that we impose upon our own industry. In addition to these measures, the European Commission is also introducing the Social Climate Fund to support energy-efficient renovations, heat pump installations, and electric vehicles, specifically targeting vulnerable households.鈥�

How should Dutch energy policy fit in all this?

鈥楢t the moment, we focus too much on our own country and solving our own problems in splendid isolation. We need to invest more in interconnectivity with other countries. In the Netherlands, we鈥檙e currently discussing building 2 to 4 new nuclear reactors, but across Europe, we need to replace dozens of them that are end of life. Let鈥檚 make those kinds of investments together, rather than each going at it alone. We are already much more interconnected than most people realize. When Germany shuts down a nuclear reactor, this also affects the Netherlands. I think we need to work towards an EU energy market in which we can transfer our surplus energy to Spain and

bring solar power energy from Spain our way during times of scarcity. Technically this is possible. With the European Grids Package we recently introduced, we are setting out measures to modernize, expand and optimize Europe鈥檚 electricity infrastructure, and to address key barriers to grid development.鈥�

What will the European energy system of the future look like?

鈥楽ince I am a strong believer in innovation, I can鈥檛 predict what types of technology we鈥檒l have in the future. But I do hope that we will become a self-sufficient Europe where we are not dependent on the whims of someone like Putin or Trump for our energy supply. That requires joint investments in sustainable generation, conversion and storage technologies. I find it rather odd that we don鈥檛 purchase our gas supplies collectively, instead of competing with each other and driving up prices in doing so. We did have a mechanism in place to do this, but unfortunately the legal base has expired. There is so much to gain if we realize that we have common goals, which every country is currently trying to achieve on their own. We stumble from one energy crisis to the next, while Europe is a massive economic entity that has a great potential to solve its own problems.鈥�

What role do science and innovation play in this scenario?

鈥楽cientists must demonstrate which scenarios are feasible and achievable, not only at a technological level, but also when it comes to costs and reliability of supply. For any new technology to be implemented in society, we need non-partisan, independent impact assessments. Scientists are well-equipped for this. The energy transition is also directly linked to the issue of critical raw materials. There is a clear role for science in exploring how we can minimize our use of these materials, and if we cannot do without them, how we can recover and reuse them. We are in need of both fundamental and applied research. This requires a robust Horizon program with room for long-term research projects. Rigorous scientific research is something we excel at in Europe. And to take that extra step from research to application, we have established the European Competitiveness Fund, through which we invest in bringing innovations from the lab to society.鈥�

And where do research institutes like EIRES fit in?

鈥榃e need to bridge the gap between science and policy, and vice versa. Scientists tend to outline all options in full detail, without making any choices. But as a scientist, you are also a participant in society. Based on your objectivity and neutrality, you are perfectly suited to indicate what would be a logical next step based on your knowledge and experience. You don鈥檛 have to wait until you鈥檙e asked to join some advisory committee: just come forward and actively participate in the public debate about our future energy system. As politicians, we might be the ones making the choices, but we need you to feed us with the latest insights and smartest ideas.鈥�

Mohammed Chahim

Mohammed Chahim is a Member of the European Parliament for Progressief Nederland, currently serving his second mandate as an MEP. He is the Vice-President of the Socialists and Democrats group, responsible for Green Deal on Industry, Energy & Climate and Financing the Just Transition. In this role, he led the negotiations on behalf of his group on the Green Deal legislative package (Fit for 55), was part of the Parliament鈥檚 negotiating team on the Emissions Trading System and served as the lead negotiator (Rapporteur) on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Previously he worked as a researcher in environmental economics and energy transition at TNO. Currently, he serves as a guest researcher at the Centre for Environmental Sciences of Leiden University.