Following the ‘Communication on the revision of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan,’ five temporary Task Forces dedicated to cross-cutting topics were established:
- Circularity and materials substitution
- Research and innovation for societal needs
- Digitalisation
- Skills
- Access to market.
The Task Forces each developed a set of 5-8 actionable recommendations for the SET Plan community, resulting in 29 recommendations in total. The Task Force recommendations encourage integrating cross-cutting topics into the SET Plan’s work, boosting progress on various EU priorities.
The recommendations were created by the Task Force members, 25 independent experts (5 per Task Force), and the Task Force Leaders and Facilitators.
Policy Officers of the European Commission had an observer role in the development of the recommendations.
The recommendations were finalised based on Task Force meetings, written feedback from the Task Force, desk research, interviews and consultations with the wider SET Plan community. An overview of the recommendations for each task force can be found here.
Each task force brings together experts and members from SET Plan stakeholder groups who drive the work forward together.
Explore the sections below to learn more about each task force and its members.
Task force 1: Circularity and materials substitution
This task force made clean energy technologies more sustainable and resilient. It explored how to maximise the use of existing materials, for example through recycling and repair, and how to develop advanced high-performance materials that can act as substitutes.
In line with European policies and goals, it prepared recommendations on how to apply circularity by design across clean energy technologies, and how to standardise rules and metrics for recycling and substitution. It also looked at how digitalisation could improve material traceability and how to speed up the development of advanced substitute materials.
Check out the full recommendations for Task Force 1.
Task force members
Lead expert: Ana Teresa Lima, Senior Researcher, Technical University of Denmark
Support experts:
- Hanna Pihkola, Research Team Leader, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
- Luis Tercero Espinoza, Coordinator of Business Unit Raw Materials, Fraunhofer Institute for the Systems and Innovations Research
- Nikolaos Arvanitidis, Chair of the EGS Mineral Resources Expert Group, Stockholm University
- Ricardo del Valle, Innovation Consultant, Bax
Members from SET Plan stakeholders:
- Ana Andrade, IWG Ocean energy
- Ramoon Barros Lovate Temporim, IWG Renewable fuels and bioenergy
- Puzant Baliozian, ETIP Photovoltaics
- Maria Capogreco, ETIP on Renewable heating and cooling
- Ludovic Charpentier, IWG Concentrated solar thermal technologies
- Ignacio Cruz, Clean Energy Transition Partnership
- Ludo Diels, IWG Sustainable and efficient energy use in industry
- Marte Gammelsaeter, IWG Direct current technologies
- Holger Ihssen, European Energy Research Alliance
- Antonio Iliceto, ETIP Smart networks for energy transition
- Katrin Kieling, IWG Geothermal energy
- John Korsgaard, ETIP Wind
- Adele Manzella, ETIP Geothermal
- Nadine May, IWG Hydrogen
- Anastasios Perimenis, IWG Industrial Carbon Management
- Hervé Romano, ETIP Hydropower
- Petra Rüther, IWG Energy efficiency in buildings
- Gerald Senentz, ETIP Sustainable nuclear energy technology platform
- Anna Wang, IWG Positive energy districts
- Marcel Weil, ETIP Batteries Europe
Task force 2: R&I for societal needs
This task force focused on aligning the development and use of clean energy technologies with the needs of citizens and other stakeholders such as NGOs and farmers. It recognised that innovation often does not fully address societal concerns or consider the different impacts on various groups. Better integration of needs should improve societal readiness, acceptance and uptake of clean energy technologies.
The task force prepared recommendations on how to embed societal needs more effectively and systematically across clean energy technologies. This included improving citizen engagement and building synergies with other sectors. It also focused on making energy systems more accessible, affordable and fair.
Explore the full Task Force 2 recommendations.
Task force members
Lead expert: Elisabeth Dütschke, Head of the Competence Center Energy Policy and Energy Markets, Coordinator of the Business Unit Actors and Social Acceptance in the Transition of the Energy System, Fraunhofer Institute for the Systems and Innovations Research
Support experts:
- Andrzej Ceglarz, Director Energy Systems, Renewable Grid Initiative
- Floor Alkemade, Full Professor and Chair Economics and Governance of Technological Innovation at Eindhoven University of Technology
- Nial Dunphy, Senior Research Fellow, School of Engineering and Architecture and the Environmental Research Institute at University College Cork, Ireland
- Susana Batel, Deputy Director, CIS-Iscte – Centre for Psychological Research and Social Intervention
Members from SET Plan stakeholders:
- Abderrahim Al Mazouzi, ETIP Sustainable nuclear energy technology platform
- Francesco Basile, Clean Energy Transition Partnership
- Marco Calderoni, IWG Concentrated solar thermal technologies
- Luca Cioccolanti, ETIP Renewable heating and cooling
- Paola Clerici Maestosi, IWG Positive energy districts
- Valentina Coccia, IWG Renewable fuels and bioenergy
- Maria Teresa Cuerdo Vilches, IWG Energy efficiency in buildings
- Michele de Nigris, ETIP Smart networks for energy transition
- Mariagiovanna Gaglione, IWG Sustainable and efficient energy use in industry
- Catherine Grandclément, ETIP Photovoltaics
- Viera Pechancová, ETIP Batteries Europe
- Ernesto Petteruti, ETIP Geothermal
- Anton Schleiss, ETIP Hydropower
- Alessandro Sciullo, European Energy Research Alliance
- Helena Solman, ETIP Wind
Lubor Žežula, IWG Nuclear safety
Task force 3: Digitalisation
This task force focused on integrating digital technologies and ensuring smooth digital data flows across the economy and society. Digital technologies are key to creating new business models and speeding up the transition to cleaner, more connected and efficient energy sources.
It prepared recommendations on how to improve access to and use of energy data across the EU. This included identifying opportunities for data sharing and building data infrastructures. It also explored ways to strengthen cyber resilience and expand the use of digital tools.
Read more on the recommendations for Task 3.
Task force members
Lead expert: João Peças Lopes, Associate Director INESC TEC Center for Power and Energy Systems & Faculdade de Engenharia da UP
Support experts:
- Pierluigi Siano, Full Professor of Electrical Power Systems, University of Salerno
- Julija Vasiljevska, Senior Researcher, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Susana Martin Toral, Head of the Energy Efficiency Area, Expert on ICT for Smart Buildings and Sustainability projects, CARTIF Technology Centre
- Vangelis Marinakis, Principal Researcher in the field of Smart Grids, ICCS – NTUA
Members from SET Plan stakeholders:
- Greg Arrowsmith, ETIP Photovoltaics
- Angela Berger, IWG Energy systems
- Ana Bernardos, IWG Concentrated solar thermal technologies
- Maher Chebbo, ETIP Batteries
- Anna Domènech, IWG Sustainable and efficient energy use in industry
- Eduard Doujak, ETIP Hydropower
- Salvatore D'Arco, IWG Direct current technologies
- Tuhfe Göçmen, ETIP Wind
- Christoph Gollner, IWG Positive energy districts
- Nikos Hatziargyriou, ETIP Smart networks for energy transition
- Patrik Klintbom, ETIP Bioenergy
- Ruairi MacIver, IWG Ocean energy
- Henrik Madsen, IWG Energy efficiency in buildings
- Rafael Mayo-García, European Energy Research Alliance
- Tina Ringenson, Clean Energy Transition Partnership
- Christophe Schneidesch, ETIP Sustainable nuclear energy technology platform
- Szabolcs Szávai, IWG Nuclear safety
- Javier Urchueguia, ETIP Geothermal
Task force 4: Skills
This task force addressed the risk of workers’ skills becoming outdated as the green and digital transitions reshape jobs and economic activity. It focused on identifying skills gaps in key energy technology sectors and finding ways to close them.
Its recommendations included improving education, harmonising certifications and standards, and promoting inclusive and awareness-raising practices to address skills shortages.
Learn more about the Task 4 recommendations.
Task force members
Lead Expert: Nathalie Richet, Senior Master Programme Manager, The Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centres
Support experts:
- Brian Azzopardi, Senior Academic, Chief Researcher & Consultant
- Emilienne Ingie Tingwey, Project Director, RES-Skill project
- Marielle Feenstra, Senior Researcher Gender, Innovation and Energy Transition, Delft University of Technology
- Stefan Humpl, Director 3S Business Consulting
Members from SET Plan stakeholders:
- Miklos Antics, ETIP Geothermal
- Silvia Bodoardo, European Energy Research Alliance
- Nabih Cherradi, ETIP Photovoltaics
- Luis Coelho, ETIP Renewable heating and cooling
- Albannie Cagnac, ETIP Sustainable nuclear energy technology platform
- Nicolaos A. Cutululis, IWG Direct current technologies
- Hande Eryilmaz, IWG Concentrated solar thermal technologies
- Ann Jessica Johnson, ETIP Sustainable nuclear energy technology platform
- Huub Keizers, IWG Energy efficiency in buildings
- Igor Krupenski, IWG Sustainable and efficient energy use in industry
- Miguel Sanchez-Fornie, ETIP Smart networks for energy transition
- Axel Thielmann, ETIP Batteries
- Mariya Trifonova, ETIP Wind
- Luca Xodo, IWG Geothermal
Task force 5: Access to the market
This task force identified barriers that limit market entry for clean energy technologies and on developing tools and methods to overcome them. It aimed to ensure that technologies are designed to meet market needs and to support the move to a low-carbon economy.
It prepared recommendations on how to identify viable business models and support efficient decision-making for investors and producers. It also looked at de-risking, harmonising standards and providing technical expertise to better align technology development with EU energy goals.
See the Task Force 5 recommendations.
Task force members
Lead Expert: Brigitte Hasewend, Director, European Sustainable Energy Innovation Alliance
Support experts:
- Friedemann Polzin, Associate Professor, Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University School of Economics
- László Szabó, Director, REKK
- Frauke Urban, Professor in the management of sustainable energy systems, Royal Institute of Technology KTH
- Stamatios Chondrogiannis, Freelancer Energy Expert, Elia Grid International
Members from SET Plan stakeholders:
- Emmanuel Bouyge, ETIP Hydropower
- Simona De Iuliis, IWG Concentrated solar thermal technologies
- Piergiovanni Domenighini, IWG Renewable fuels and bioenergy
- Philippe Dumas, ETIP Geothermal
- Thorsten Fingerle, ETIP Wind
- Ivan Matejak, European Energy Research Alliance
- John Moore, IWG Direct current technologies
- Dimitris Papageorgiou, ETIP Renewable heating and cooling
- Emina Pasic, IWG Positive energy districts
- Eadbhard Pernot, ETIP Carbon Management
- Marion Perrin, ETIP Photovoltaics
- Lotta Pirttimaa, ETIP Ocean
- Natalie Samovich, ETIP Smart networks for energy transition
- Jozef Sobolewski, IWG Nuclear safety
- Annita Westenbroek, IWG Sustainable and efficient energy use in industry
- Stefan Wolf, ETIP Batteries Europe
- Luca Xodo, IWG Geothermal