EU Energy Commissioner: Independence Requires More Energy Produced in Europe
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen argues in an opinion piece that the bloc must expand domestic clean energy production and end fossil fuel imports. He cites the extra costs caused by the conflict in the Persian Gulf.
European Union energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen says in an opinion piece that the bloc needs more energy produced in Europe to become independent. He argues that the conflict in the Persian Gulf has again exposed the EU to external shocks: since it began, spending on imported oil and gas has exceeded the same period last year by more than €100 billion.
What has been achieved
According to the author, 89 gigawatts of renewable capacity were added to the EU energy system last year. For the first time, solar and wind generated more electricity than fossil fuels. Gas consumption has fallen by 17% since 2022. Russia's share of EU natural gas imports has dropped from 40% to just over 10%, and it is set to reach zero because EU legislation provides for a ban on Russian gas imports.
Jørgensen also notes that EU countries have interconnected their electricity markets to a degree seen nowhere else in the world. This makes it easier to give each other support and to trade electricity across borders at the best price. Private investment in renewable energy infrastructure reached €15.5 billion in 2024, more than 150% above the 2020 level.
Next steps
The commissioner highlights three priorities: diversifying external suppliers, maintaining cooperation among countries and companies, and accelerating the shift to clean energy. That means shorter waiting times for clean energy projects, better grid planning and electrification of the economy. He says the existing nuclear fleet can provide reliable baseload for renewables, alongside work on small modular reactors and nuclear fusion.
In the coming months, the EU plans to set out how it wants its energy system to look over the next decade, with 2040 targets for renewables, efficiency and electrification. The article is the author's opinion and may not reflect the editorial position of the publication.
