Energy consumption is linked direct to economic activity. According to Eurostat the most significant drop in European energy consumption – 5.8% – occurred in 2009 and is attributed by the agency “to a lower level of economic activity as a result of the global financial and economic crisis”, although in general the consumption of energy continues to grow […]
A key factor in current gas policy is the fight for the European gas market, which is becoming increasingly politicized. It is very evident that this market requires substantial re-structuring, linked to the consequences of American sanctions policy and changes in the system of gas transport routes, even if not all the transport options announced […]
German politicians’ faint hopes that the administration of new US president Joe Biden would replace wrath with favour have been dashed by an icy Transatlantic reality. Washington continues to take an intransigent stance and threaten European participants in the project with sanctions. But Berlin is still trying to withstand the pressure and save face, by […]
Europe is turning to artificial intelligence to manage the next stage of its energy transition. AI is expected to help integrate more renewable power, ease grid congestion and unlock demand-side flexibility – but the rapid growth of data centres is also creating a new challenge for Europe’s electricity networks. The European energy system is […]
Europe is being urged to become the first “electro-continent,” with a 50% electrification goal for 2040. The Commission wants to raise electricity’s share of final energy consumption from roughly 23% today to 50%, while renewables already supply 47.5% of the EU’s gross electricity consumption. Hitting that goal will still require cheaper power, major grid upgrades, […]
In its quest to diversify its energy sources and strengthen its energy security, the European Union is increasingly looking south. Africa is a logical geopolitical choice: it already meets around 20 per cent of Europe’s gas needs through pipeline supplies from North Africa and LNG from Nigeria. New routes from Nigeria via Algeria and Morocco […]
The European energy transition has entered a new, challenging phase. For a long time, one question took centre stage: how quickly can coal, oil and gas be replaced by renewable energy? Now, a second, more complex problem is coming to the fore. Europe is producing ever more electricity from wind and solar power – but […]
Nuclear energy is back on Europe’s political agenda. After years of closures, disputes and a dominant focus on renewables, a growing bloc of EU leaders now sees nuclear power not as a technology of the past, but as a cornerstone of future energy security. Its main selling point: stable, low-carbon electricity that does not depend […]
The European renewable energy market is entering a new phase. While the number of solar and wind power facilities built has been the key indicator of the energy transition in recent years, the ability of these facilities to operate within an overloaded and volatile power grid is now playing an increasingly important role. Against this […]
Middle East turbulence is pushing European gas prices toward a new stress point and reviving a taboo question: could the EU turn back to cheap Russian energy? While Brussels vows to phase out Russian gas by 2027, the real battle is not only about inflation – it is whether Europe can resist trading long-term geopolitical […]
Europe’s wood pellet industry became a central part of the EU’s move away from coal, but its future is now under pressure from tougher sustainability rules, political scrutiny, and doubts about its climate benefits. As Europe tightens biomass standards after 2027, the future of wood pellets may depend on proving they are truly green. […]
China initially appeared to be among the biggest potential losers from the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz. Yet Beijing’s vast oil reserves, diversified supply network and rapid electrification strategy may allow it to weather the shock far better than many experts expected. As global concerns over energy security intensify, the crisis could ultimately strengthen […]
Europe is betting billions on carbon capture technology as it races toward climate neutrality by 2050. From Norway’s offshore storage hubs to industrial CO₂ networks in Rotterdam, CCS is rapidly moving from pilot phase to strategic infrastructure – despite high costs, regulatory hurdles and growing scepticism. A growing role in Europe’s climate strategy Europe’s path […]
Europe’s energy transition is being shaped not only by wind farms and solar parks, but also by homes, schools and office buildings. Going forward, modern homes are expected to consume less energy, generate their own electricity and store energy, making households less dependent on gas prices. In Germany, the government can subsidise the replacement of […]
