engleski

Energy Transition of the European Union

Fossil fuel-based economic growth and development are unsustainable due to climate change. Climate change is the result of greenhouse gas emissions, while greenhouse gas emissions are the result of fossil fuel consumption. Considering the growing demand for energy in developing countries, primarily China and also India, new models of economic growth and development based on renewable energy sources are required. The transition from fossil to renewable energy sources occurs through energy transition. Energy transition encompasses numerous changes, two of which are most signifi cant. The fi rst is a gradual change in the structure of power generation capacities. Fossil fuel capacities are decreasing, while renewable capacities are increasing. The second change is based on the technical and technological progress in transport, as a major energy consumer. Electric vehicles are gradually replacing fossil fuel- powered vehicles. This is accompanied by digitalisation of the energy sector, through the establishment of the smart grid. As a result, a new energy market model has arisen, in which an energy consumer is simultaneously an energy producer, i.e. a prosumer, while centralised energy production is replaced by distributed energy production. The European Union was the fi rst to initiate energy transition, and other countries soon followed. This paper analyses the causes of the problems by analysing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. A solution to the problem is seen in energy transition as modelled by the European Union. The decoupling of gross domestic product (GDP) growth from energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions reduction or stagnation is analysed. This paper analyses the new energy market model, as the result of energy transition. New trends and future developments, as practiced in the European Union, are presented as the result of the new model.

energy transition, prosumer, smart grid, virtual power plant, demand response

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