Green energy carriers and energy sovereignty in a climate neutral European energy system

Meeting the goals of Paris Agreement poses significant challenges to provide renewable energy for power, heating, transport, and industrial sector. Both green hydrogen methane are considered key carriers reaching these climate targets. However, future needs an effective infrastructure deployment highly uncertain, particularly concerning timely substantial expansion electricity generation in Europe. To better understand trade-offs between domestic production large-scale imports their corresponding infrastructures needs, we use system optimisation model REMix. We consider different strategic European story lines constraints on pipelines power grids identify robust capacity targets from a cost optimal perspective. The results indicate that sovereignty is feasible but comes at around 3% higher compared stronger cooperation with resource-rich areas such as British Isles or Maghreb region. In contrast, preventing any network lead increase up 15%. With regard extensive adaptations required achieve emission reduction goal, sources particular be regarded crucial.