Europe’s clean energy transition is accelerating – but so is public resistance in some regions. While most Europeans support renewables, projects often face local opposition when communities feel excluded or see few direct benefits. This brief explores how renewable energy projects can strengthen trust and public acceptance by sharing value locally, creating jobs, and showing that the transition is not only green, but fair.
As the European Green Deal enters its delivery phase, a fair, participatory energy transition is vital. This report explores tools to ensure that EU policies balance environmental sustainability with social equity, fostering resilience and inclusion.
Europe has set out on the path to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, and all countries must identify how to deliver this objective. While various technology options are available, the need for vast amounts of cheap renewable energy is certain. The shallow, windy northern seas have long been recognised as a key opportunity to deliver renewable electricity at scale and recent reductions in the costs of offshore wind have led countries to set ambitious targets for deployment.
The EU faces critical decisions on energy infrastructure planning and deployment to meet its climate goals, aiming for a 55% emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. A 100% renewable energy system, eliminating fossil fuels and nuclear energy is seen as the most viable solution. However, current EU energy infrastructure policy and planning are insufficient, risking lock-in to outdated technologies.
Core services, including energy, food, water, housing and healthcare, are essential for a decent standard of living. The economic dynamics of these services in Europe, however, vary greatly, particularly in the extent of commercialisation. Essential healthcare stands out as a service delivered largely outside of the market; by contrast, food and energy are commercialised in most
European countries. The commercialised status of energy in Europe can have an impact on living standards, particularly when accompanied by inadequate regulation.
The climate crisis and energy price explosion have made it clear: the EU cannot afford its dependency on fossil fuels anymore. How to deal with these enormous challenges? Our 100% Renewable Action Plan for the European Commission 2024-2029 describes what needs to happen to harvest the benefits of renewables.
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union and Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe) have convened a group of over 20 experts from academia, industry, civil society and policy makers to discuss and identify several important policy gaps in the EU’s approach to renewable energy, which should be addressed to ensure that the EU’s new climate and industry agenda becomes as effective and globally equitable as it can be.
The European Commission has proposed a reform in the electricity market design. Both the technical implementation of the reform and the notion that marginal pricing is to blame are contested, and have significant implications with regard to investments in renewable energy sources (RES). This factsheet summarizes the key changes proposed in the reform, whilst focusing on their effects regarding the integration of RES into the European energy system and the flexibility potential required to achieve this integration.
To meet the EU climate targets, policymakers need to support both the rapid deployment and manufacturing of cleantech, while also strengthening the EU’s research and innovation ecosystem. Next to this, they need to consider a range of questions. How will their policy response deliver quality jobs for citizens? How will it bolster the EU’s resilience vis-à-vis Russia or China? And finally, how will it support the EU’s economic competitiveness in an era when large economies have entered a cleantech race? This factsheet reviews existing EU funding initiatives to accomplish this endeavour.
The EU must put an end to unabated fossil gas use by 2050 at the latest to comply with its climate neutrality objective. To stay within the Paris Agreement target of 1.5°C, the use of unabated fossil gas would have to end significantly earlier – by 2035. This report outlines the implications of this challenge for the management of the energy transition in a way that rapidly phases out Russian gas imports, protects security of supply and energy-poor consumers as well as the climate.
Nuclear energy has been brought back into the European energy debate due to populist power. Currently, a complex debate is taking place within the EU about whether nuclear power should be part of the Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities. To determine whether nuclear energy can, or even should, play a role in future energy policy, it must fulfil basic criteria of sustainability.
The EU, its institutions and all Member States must prioritize urgent action in order to implement the Paris Agreement's goal to limit the increase in temperatures to 1.5°C. The MFF 2021-2027 is the last investment cycle to help change course, and a stronger climate performance is urgently needed to reach our 2030 climate targets.
Indonesia is the world’s largest palm oil producer and exporter. Human rights are being violated in the plantations and the rising exploitation for renewable energy and biofuels brings further violence and criminalisation. How can the EU contribute to a sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia to best preserve nature and human rights?
How to plan and design renewable energy projects as a way to fulfill domestic climate commitments? A Mexican case study into wind farm projects in Oaxaca and infringements of the rights of indigenous peoples.
The EU's 2030 renewable energy framework presents a great opportunity to boost regional cooperation in the Energy Union to bridge the gap between national energy policies and a Europeanisation of renewables deployment.
Where does the French-German tandem go when it comes to renewables cooperation? Where do we stand with regard to energy transition ambition on both sides of the Rhine? These and similar questions have been adressed at a Böll Lunch Debate in the summer, please find here the event report.
The focus on the Energiewende has increasingly shifted to the role of coal in Germany. Arne Jungjohann and Craig Morris take a critical and historical look at the German coal situation and find that coal is in fact not making a comeback in Germany.
This paper demonstrates that an expansion of renewable energy sources is the only path to a secure, affordable and climate-friendly energy system until 2030 and beyond. Renewables not only drastically reduce emissions and other environmental and social burdens; they also reduce energy import dependency and hence increase energy security, strengthen local economies, and create jobs.
