Sector & service specialists

Europe’s energy sector spans numerous, often competing interests spanning renewables, oil, gas and nuclear though to electricity distribution.

In the wake of the global energy market disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission adopted the REPowerEU Plan. The objective was to rapidly reduce the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels, by fast-forwarding the clean transition and joining forces to achieve a more resilient energy system with a true Energy Union.  To date, the EU has successfully met most of the ambitious targets set in the REPowerEU Plan has helped the EU save energy, diversify its supplies, produce clean energy and combine investments and reforms.

Wind energy is set to become the leading source of electricity in the EU before 2030. The EU wants wind to cover 35% of electricity consumption by 2030 and more than 50% by 2050. Wind energy is affordable, scalable, clean and home-grown. It cuts energy costs for European businesses and households while boosting energy security and predictability compared to fossil fuels. Despite the clear benefits of renewable electricity over fossil fuels, Europe’s electrification efforts are stalling. In the EU only 31% of industrial energy use comes from electricity.  According to a new report from leading trade association Wind Europe, Europe needs to ramp up electrification. Many industrial processes are ready to be electrified, especially those that run on low process heat. This includes paper, pulp, food & beverage and chemicals. But also more energy-intensive processes like steel manufacturing.

In 2024, the European Union installed 65.5 GW of solar PV, marking the eighth consecutive year of record-breaking annual additions. However, the annual growth rate decelerated significantly to 4.4% compared to the robust 41-53% observed during 2021-2023. This slowdown was expected, as the exceptional surge was largely driven by soaring electricity prices during the energy crisis.  Following a period of exceptional growth, the EU solar market is facing stagnation and a declining investment, putting 2030 renewable energy goals at risk according to the trade association SolarPower Europe. The sector’s ability to take a leading role in EU decarbonisation will depend on policymakers’ efforts to lift regulatory and market challenges that continue to hamper solar power

Given the urgent need to reduce energy prices and increase production attitudes to nuclear energy are evolving rapidly.  Indeed the trade association nucleareurope welcomed the European Commission’s recent proposal for a Clean Industrial Deal (CID) and Action Plan for Affordable Energy, both of which pay significant attention to ensuring a technology neutral approach.

At the last count there are over 50 trade associations focussed on energy, and six of Brussels top 20 corporate affairs spenders (Shell, ExxonMobil, Equinor, TotalEnergies,E.ON and BP) are energy companies. Moreover, every sector is an energy consumer which means EU energy policy is a vitally important horizontal policy area.