Updated Strategic Energy Technology Plan for Europe’s clean, secure and competitive energy future

The  revision of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan, adopted today, will help harmonise the original SET Plan strategic objectives with the European Green Deal, REPowerEU Plan and the Green Deal Industrial Plan – notably, the Net-Zero Industry Act. It will ensure a coordinated approach towards achieving Europe’s decarbonisation goals, supporting strategic net-zero technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient energy future and industrial competitiveness.

Established in 2007, the SET Plan has been crucial in supporting the development of clean, efficient and cost-competitive energy technologies through coordination and collaboration in clean energy research and innovation among European industry, academia, and national governments.

While the updated SET Plan will continue to be essential for delivering on the fifth dimension of the Energy Union – that is, Research, Innovation and Competitiveness – it will also be firmly anchored within the European Research Area (ERA) framework.

With this revision, the Commission will take action in the following areas:

• Include new priorities on cross-cutting issues, including sustainability by design, skills development, research and innovation, tailored to societal needs, digitalisation, and market accessibility. By doing so, it will foster a comprehensive approach to the development and deployment of clean and efficient energy technologies.
• Expand the current technology scope to encompass all strategic renewable energy technologies. This inclusive approach recognises the substantial developments in renewable energy technologies since the SET Plan’s inception, ensuring that the EU remains at the forefront of clean energy innovation.
• Establish a dedicated workstream on hydrogen to implement the ‘ERA pilot on Green Hydrogen’. This measure highlights the EU’s commitment to a joint venture towards new challenges and emerging technologies, which is a key element in Europe’s journey towards a climate-neutral future.
• Forge cooperation between the European Technology and Innovation Platforms and the European industrial alliances, including the Battery Alliance, the Clean Hydrogen Alliance, and the Solar PV Industry Alliance. This will foster investment and will reinforce manufacturing capacity in clean energy technologies. It will also address market, regulatory, infrastructure, and technological challenges that currently hinder their widespread adoption.
• Provide a roadmap for progress that will continue to be monitored through the SET Plan information system (SETIS). It will feed into the annual report on the State of the Energy Union and will be disseminated at the SET Plan conferences. These new SET Plan directions, devised for each of the six priorities of the ‘Research, Innovation and Competitiveness’ dimension of the Energy Union, will drive innovation and ensure accountability, propelling Europe towards a greener, more sustainable energy landscape.

The Clean Energy Transition Partnership, a multilateral and strategic partnership of national and regional research, development and innovation programmes co-funded by Horizon Europe and national governments, will continue to support the implementation of the SET Plan activities and will be instrumental to underpin its extended scope.

The Commission will work closely with the SET Plan countries (currently all EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Turkey), the SET Plan Steering Group and other relevant stakeholders, including new actors and task forces as necessary, to develop and deliver on the new measures and targets included in the Communication.

Background

In 2007, the Commission launched the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan as a first step to establish an energy technology policy for Europe. The SET Plan has ever since become a crucial policy tool for research and innovation in energy with Member States and Associated Countries.

The overall objective of the SET Plan is to provide a common vision, goals, and coordination in accelerating the development and deployment of efficient and cost-competitive clean technologies, and to enhance the EU’s geopolitical resilience and security of energy supply. The SET Plan was updated in 2015 with six priorities in line with the Research Innovation and Competitiveness pillar of the Energy Union. It also plays a central role in guiding national energy research strategies, as reflected in the National Energy and Climate Plans. 

It has contributed to effectively associate national efforts into industrial alliances and Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs), as for example the Battery Alliance and the IPCEI on Batteries. SET Plan countries have pooled more than €500 million in the co-funded Clean Energy Transition Partnership under Horizon Europe.

For More Information

SETIS – SET Plan Information System

Communication on SET-Plan revision

Quote(s)

The revision of the SET Plan contributes significantly to building a sustainable, low-carbon future and supporting Europe’s strategic net-zero energy technologies. By revamping its strategic objective and equipping this initiative with better tools, we are underpinning its ambitions, enhancing the societal dimension and elevating its political relevance by ensuring its strengthened contribution to our biggest policy priorities.

The SET Plan is a key enabler for better aligning research and innovation programmes and policies with the energy and climate targets, both at national and European level, enhancing the competitiveness of net-zero industries. The revision of the SET Plan is timely, as countries will have to intensify collaboration and work together to accelerate the clean energy transition – for the benefit of the planet and our economy.