Facing　energy　crisis　and　climate　changes,　transition　towards　a　low　carbon　electricity　system　has　aroused　great　concern　around　the　world.　As　pioneer　in　CO2　emission　reduction,　European　Union　(EU)　is　planning　all-round　transformation　in　electricity　system.　This　paper　analyses　and　concludes　European　decarbonization　strategies　from　four　aspects,　with　the　aim　to　explore　approaches　to　a　low　carbon　electricity　system.　At　generation　level,　exploitation　of　large　scale　renewable　energy　sources　(RES)　is　the　key　to　a　low　carbon　energy　supply.　At　transmission　level,　a　pan-European　transmission　grid　is　essential　for　the　integration　and　transportation　of　RES　across　Europe.　At　consumption　level,　great　importance　will　be　attached　to　demand　response　(DR)　to　reduce　supply　variability.　At　technology　level,　promising　breakthrough　technologies　are　summarized.　Inspired　by　European　plans,　the　paper　ends　by　providing　suggestions　for　a　future　low　carbon　electricity　system　in　China.