1. PAC
  2. Project

The PAC project

 

In its first phase, the PAC project – “Paris Agreement Compatible Scenarios for Energy Infrastructure”– has been established to develop a future energy scenario for Europe which is compatible with the Paris Agreement. The scenario, developed by civil society, shall guide European energy infrastructure planning and help to ensure that we are planning and building the infrastructure necessary for a future low carbon, renewables-based energy system. In addition to this, the first phase of the PAC project brought together stakeholders and experts who usually do not interact with each other and established a close exchange with ENTSOs on the topic of the TYNDP scenarios.

In its second phase, the PAC project focuses on investigating the technical, political and societal framework conditions that must be established in order to implement an ambitious and rapid energy system decarbonisation. This energy transition must: increase the share of renewables; achieve high level of energy security; and, enable environmental compatibility, competitiveness and social fairness.

The PAC project is also a capacity building opportunity for stakeholders who wish to expand their knowledge of developing and modelling energy scenarios. The second phase of PAC will continue to facilitate discussions on pathways to reaching the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target between stakeholders who usually do not associate with each other.

 

 

Who we are

The PAC consortium consists of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe (+170 NGO members across Europe), European Environmental Bureau (EEB) (+170 NGO members across Europe), Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) (15 NGO Members, 13 Transmission System Operator Members and 2 Supporting Members) and REN21 (+80 members with an international focus from civil society, academia and research, governments, industry and intergovernmental associations).

Objectives

 

The first phase of PAC has achieved its 4 main objectives:

 

1) Review the TYNDP scenarios and assumptions

 

2) Develop a Paris Agreement compatible energy scenario for Europe

 

3) Work with energy modellers to share knowledge and improve capacity

 

4) Raise global awareness about the importance of grids and collaborative scenario development

Building on the work of the first phase, the second phase of the PAC project has the following objectives:

  1. Initiate a dialogue on the topic of ambitious energy scenarios with emitters, grid operators and the high-level expert groups. This includes clarifying to what extent and in which time frames these stakeholders are relying on electrification or increased use of hydrogen, other gases such as methane and other fuels.
  2. Continue modeller exchanges to support the development of models and modelling processes capable of reflecting the future complexity of the global energy system; continue the constructive relationship with the ENTSOs.
  3. Increase the capacity of NGOs to contribute to energy policy discussions regarding the path towards Paris Agreement compatible grid infrastructure based on data and assessment of opportunities and barriers. This includes strengthening exchanges with policymakers to encourage the creation of frameworks for the implementation of ambitious scenarios.
  4. Expanding exchanges with international institutions, increasing their capacity to drive the achievement of the Paris climate targets at the global level forward.
  5. Disseminate the findings generated in the above-mentioned dialogues to various key stakeholders (grid planning, policy makers, international community). In particular, the PAC project aims to elevate findings on how key players in the European energy system (large consumers, grid operators, institutions) plan to achieve at least the 55% target by 2030 and information on the influence of citizens on scenario development and infrastructure planning.

How is the project organised?

This project combines analytical work of the consortium partners, direct engagement with stakeholders and dissemination work. You can learn all about our publications and the workshops we organise here, all about the development of the PAC scenario here and all about presenting PAC to the public here.

Project financing

This project has been financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action with two rounds of grants realised in the timeframe of: 2018-2020 and 2021-2024.