Renewables

For citizens, the energy transition brings many opportunities to cut their bills. They can benefit from cheap renewables, for instance by using solar power from their rooftop. They can reduce their energy consumption, for instance through energy efficient appliances or building renovation. They can also use renewable electricity to move from one place to another. But not every household can afford the new technologies such as solar photovoltaic panels, electric vehicles or heat pumps. The EU offers several rights and regulations that facilitate citizens’ fair participation in the energy transition. Explore our infographic to see which tools make it easier to benefit from the different technologies. This will empower households to escape from rising fossil fuel prices.

New policy briefs by a broad range of stakeholders in energy and social policy outline key levers for the EU to improve citizen participation and inclusion in the energy transition. 

Five months into the new European Commission, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union is releasing an updated European Green Deal Risk Radar, spotlighting critical risks to the EU’s climate, environmental, and sustainability laws in the 2024–2029 legislative term.

The EU promised a renewable energy future – but is it still on track? As political shifts, policy delays and legal battles unfold, the energy transition faces new hurdles. Are we still moving forward, or is Europe starting to backpedal? Seden Anlar reports.

On 9 April 2025, Germany’s incoming government of Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD) concluded a governing ‘contract’ that paves the way for the partners to take office in May. The new chancellor will be CDU chief Friedrich Merz, who underscored in the campaign that climate protection would not be a top priority. Paul Hockenos reports.

The European Commission has unveiled its new strategy to make EU industries more competitive with cheap energy. Does this mean the bloc will go full speed ahead in terms of building more wind farms and solar power plants? Jörg Mühlenhoff looks into what the details of the Clean Industrial Deal mean for Europe’s energy transition.

Are ‘highly energy-efficient and sustainable’ data centres by 2030 realistic? Jessica Commins and Kristina Irion argue that despite efficiency measures, unchecked sector growth threatens sustainability. This post presents ten elements that will be key in the development of the iteration of the EU data centre sustainability policy.

Most Britons have no intention of installing a heat pump. Given the cost of electricity in the UK, that’s not unreasonable. Ros Taylor looks at why it is so hard to tempt them away from gas boilers.