Workers smooth a sticker at the entrance of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, October 28, 2015. (FRANCOIS LENOIR / REUTERS) 

BRUSSELS - Energy system integration and a new hydrogen strategy are poised to spearhead the European Union's quest to achieve climate-neutrality by 2050, according to strategies unveiled by the European Commission on Wednesday.

With energy system integration, the Commission said it seeks to bring about the abandonment of the current model of unplanned energy consumption and replace it with a more planned and integrated energy system

"The EU strategies for energy system integration and hydrogen, adopted today, will pave the way towards a more efficient and interconnected energy sector, driven by the twin goals of a cleaner planet and a stronger economy," said the EU's executive arm in a press release.

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With energy system integration, the Commission said it seeks to bring about the abandonment of the current model of unplanned energy consumption and replace it with a more planned and integrated energy system.

This includes a more effective "circular" use of energy in buildings or communities, greater direct electrification with more charging points, and the promotion of clean fuels.

In the second part of the action plan, the Commission's new hydrogen strategy would gradually be phased in over three stages from 2020 to 2050, and oversee the decarbonization of all sectors across the EU, at the same time acting as a catalyst for the further development of renewable hydrogen, produced using mainly wind and solar energy.

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"The EU's energy system has to become better integrated, more flexible and able to accommodate the cleanest and most cost-effective solutions. Hydrogen will play a key role in this, as falling renewable energy prices and continuous innovation make it a viable solution for a climate-neutral economy," said Kadri Simson, EU Commissioner for Energy.

Together with the Commission's Next Generation EU Recovery Package and the European Green Deal, the two strategies are also seen as important factors in EU job creation.

"The new hydrogen economy can be a growth engine to help overcome the economic damage caused by COVID-19. In developing and deploying a clean hydrogen value chain, Europe will become a global front-runner and retain its leadership in clean tech," said Executive Vice-President for the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans.

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"If we want to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050, we need to switch our energy systems from fossil fuels to clean," Timmermans tweeted.

According to the European Commission, the new twin strategies not only further strengthen EU's commitment to become carbon neutrality by 2050, but also contributes to the global effort to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement.

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