Energy transition

Renewables have moved from being a sideshow to the main act in Europe’s energy theatre. Government support has been key to this – but renewables are increasingly able to stand on their own.

In the EU, an Energy Union is emerging from an array of packages, policies, projects and proposals. They map the shift from conventional energy markets to flexible ones that promote renewables.

Europe is making progress towards its energy transition at a rate few imagined ten years ago. There is still a long way to go, but the continent is now in a position to become the global leader in green energy.

Cities can be a hotbed of innovation. They are big enough to try out new ideas on a large scale, but small enough to brush them aside if they do not work out.

The report Driving regional cooperation forward in the 2030 renewable energy framework, explores the role of regional cooperation to reach or even exceed the target of at least 27% renewables by 2030.

In the first week of June, the Czech government adopted an action plan that is supposed to lead to the construction of four new reactors in the country. The government’s decision, however, is not the product of a rational political debate; it is the result of the long-term erosion of responsible governing.

The German energy transition - or Energiewende - cannot be regarded as a solely German phenomenon and is increasingly impacting energy systems far beyond its borders. If the Energiewende is to turn into a true success story it must become more European.