1. Deploy smart meters across Europe
The first and most critical step in Europe’s journey towards Net Zero is the widespread deployment of smart meters. These devices are the foundation of a digitalised energy system, providing the essential data needed to monitor and manage energy consumption.
Latest numbers suggest that only 13 of the 27 EU countries have completed smart meter rollouts with a penetration rate greater than 80%. Meanwhile, 11 countries are still lagging far behind, which poses a significant challenge to achieving a unified, digitalised energy system.
Countries that have completed their smart meter rollouts are well-positioned to move on to more advanced stages of digitalisation. It’s therefore crucial to get those countries lagging behind on board as soon as possible because without widespread deployment, the necessary data to drive informed decisions is simply unavailable and will stall the progress towards a sustainable energy system.