Category: Mega Trends & Analysis Europe

Europeans turn to clean energy amid fossil fuel price shock

Europeans turn to clean energy amid fossil fuel price shock

May 18, 2026 | ,

The start of the Iran war has significantly accelerated consumer and government interest in clean energy. High fossil fuel prices and concerns over energy security have led to a surge in solar PV and electric vehicle inquiries across several European markets. Supportive policy frameworks can bolster the economic case for switching to renewables and electric vehicles. The relative size of Google searches for “plug-in solar” across six markets offers an indication that government support for new technologies influences take-up. Peaks in interest in EVs show a strong correlation with fossil fuel shocks related to geopolitical events, suggesting increased potential for electrification, which can be further supported through effective incentives.

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Untapped Potential: Highlights from REGlobal’s Floating Solar in Europe Conference

Untapped Potential: Highlights from REGlobal’s Floating Solar in Europe Conference

April 3, 2026 | ,

Europe has ambitious solar targets (up to 600 GW solar by 2030) and there is a need for new deployment forms such as agri-solar, floating solar, and building-integrated PV. Main barriers hampering rapid floating solar deployment in Europe include complex and slow permitting processes, high costs and financing challenges and knowledge gaps with respect to risks and environmental impacts. These can be resolved by simplifying and clarifying permitting frameworks, supporting hybrid systems as well as promoting pilots and training.

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Germany and Italy lead BESS installations in the EU

Germany and Italy lead BESS installations in the EU

February 23, 2026 | ,

In 2025, battery storage deployment reached a new record high of 27.1 GWh, a 45% increase compared to 2024. This marks a significant acceleration after growth slowed to 23% in 2024 as a result of fundamental shifts in market and policy dynamics. As anticipated, several challenges persisted in 2025, enabling higher annual growth rates but still below 2023 levels of 73%, alongside a completely different market composition. These rapid shifts show how quickly policy and market conditions can influence battery installation levels. In 2025, Germany and Italy kept their top positions as leading BESS markets.

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7 GW offshore wind is under construction in the North Sea: EMBER

7 GW offshore wind is under construction in the North Sea: EMBER

February 16, 2026 | ,

As the largest offshore wind sea in the world, the North Sea has the potential to support industrial manufacturing and energy security across the bordering nations, provided collaboration is ensured. With 101 operational wind farms making up 30 GW, the North Sea has a greater capacity than the South or East China seas, and has a significant pipeline of projects in construction or in early development. Six countries have operational offshore wind capacity in the North Sea contributing to this total – the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Norway – in order of total capacity.

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Top 10 Solar PV Markets in Europe

Top 10 Solar PV Markets in Europe

January 12, 2026 | , ,

After a period of unprecedented growth, the EU solar market is poised to take a small step back in 2025. The bloc is set to install 65.1 GW of new solar PV capacity, marking the first annual decrease in market size in a decade. Following years of extraordinary expansion, +38% in 2021, +48% in 2022, and +51% in 2023, growth had already slowed sharply in 2024, when installations rose only 2.8% to 65.6 GW. In 2025, the market is expected to shrink by 0.7%, confirming that the EU solar boom is under pressure. Several factors underpin this slowdown.

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Energy transition in Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia 

Energy transition in Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia 

December 15, 2025 | ,

Kosovo’s energy sector currently finds itself at a critical juncture, grappling with the dual challenges of transitioning towards decarbonisation while addressing the deep-rooted issue of energy poverty. Serbia primarily relies on low-quality lignite for electricity production as nearly 70 per cent of electricity is produced by thermal power plants, this causes huge challenges regarding air pollution. North Macedonia remains highly dependent on coal for supply security, with the main production of electrical energy coming from Bitola and Oslomej/Kičevo thermal power plants.

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Nordic Grid Plan: Charting the transition journey to emission-free energy

Nordic Grid Plan: Charting the transition journey to emission-free energy

September 18, 2025 | ,

The electricity consumption in the Nordic region is expected to increase in the coming decades. However, the extent of this growth, its location and the speed at which it will occur remain highly uncertain. In the short-term, electrification of existing demands in industries, transport and heating will only increase the demand. In the long term, demand will mainly come from new electrified industries including data centres, new industrial facilities and hydrogen production based on electrolysis. On the supply side, most of the new electricity production will come from wind and solar.

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Record-breaking sunshine pushes British solar to new heights: EMBER

Record-breaking sunshine pushes British solar to new heights: EMBER

September 8, 2025 | , ,

Solar power in Great Britain had a record-breaking start to 2025, with solar up 32%, to produce a record 9.91 TWh, breaking generation records for five months in a row since March 2025. A further record was broken on the 8th of July with the highest ever level of solar power on the grid at 14 GW. This level is repeatedly being raised. For comparison, this is 44% higher than 5 years prior when the solar peak in 2020 was just 9.7 GW. The continued deployment of new solar panels means that in 2025, one of the sunniest years on record to date has been successfully translated into high levels of power generation.

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Rising Supply Chain Risks in the European Wind Sector

Rising Supply Chain Risks in the European Wind Sector

August 18, 2025 | , ,

European and global wind energy supply chains are increasingly characterised by strategic dependencies and emerging bottlenecks. China is an increasingly important actor in terms of global wind turbine manufacturing, and the EU faces critical choices regarding how to manage its growing reliance on Chinese imports while protecting the viability of its domestic manufacturing base. These decisions carry significant implications for the stability, competitiveness, and long-term resilience of the European wind energy sector.

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Outlook for Offshore Wind Deployment in Europe

Outlook for Offshore Wind Deployment in Europe

June 30, 2025 | , ,

Offshore wind’s journey began with Denmark’s first offshore wind turbines installed in 1991 off the island of Lolland. Since then it has evolved into a story of remarkable growth. In Europe alone, offshore wind contributes approximately USD 3.2 billion GW installation in gross value added (GVA). A total of 56.3 GW of offshore wind capacity was awarded worldwide last year and Europe led the way, with 23.2 GW awarded in Europe.

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Overcoming Barriers to Offshore Wind Deployment in France

Overcoming Barriers to Offshore Wind Deployment in France

April 14, 2025 | , ,

France has lagged behind its neighbours in the development of offshore wind, despite having substantial potential due to its extensive coastline and favourable wind conditions. The reasons for France’s slower progress in this sector are numerous but do not justify underutilising a technology that can partially replace its ageing fleet of nuclear power stations. France has a very low share (11%) of its electricity demand covered by wind power; offshore wind is just 1%. That places France far below its Northwest European neighbours.

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Without clean power, UK grid remains exposed to gas import shocks: EMBER

Without clean power, UK grid remains exposed to gas import shocks: EMBER

March 10, 2025 | ,

UK gas and oil production is in long-term decline. The only way to reduce import reliance is to accelerate clean power deployment and supply consumer demand with a more resilient, independent grid. The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan is estimated to reduce imports in the power system by around half due to the accelerated deployment of renewable energy displacing gas power, despite declining UK oil and gas production. Furthermore, the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan does not target deep reductions in biomass consumption, which is currently overwhelmingly reliant on imports. Electrification is a critical part of the solution to significantly reduce import reliance for household energy, along with wider measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce consumer bills.

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EU 2040 Climate Target: Building Blocks and Measures

EU 2040 Climate Target: Building Blocks and Measures

January 20, 2025 | , , ,

The European Climate Law (ECL) requires the EU to adopt a climate target for 2040. The European Commission recommends an EU climate target for 2040 of 90% reduction in net GHG emissions by 2040 (compared to 1990). Achieving emission reductions on this scale is indispensable if the EU is to stay on a realistic path towards climate neutrality by 2050 and net negative emissions thereafter. To achieve emission reductions on this scale, the EU must meet its 2030 climate target and scale up its current reduction efforts significantly. EU is projected to only reduce net emissions by 54% in 2040, and 62% if additional measures are implemented.

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Offshore Wind Policy Framework in Germany and Netherlands

Offshore Wind Policy Framework in Germany and Netherlands

December 19, 2024 | , ,

Currently, Germany is one of the world’s largest markets in the offshore wind energy sector. Not only has it the world’s third largest installed offshore wind capacity, but it is also home to several key players in the global market. The Netherlands aims that by 2050 all energy used in the Netherlands comes from sustainable energy sources. In efforts to reach this goal, it is agreed in the Climate Agreement that in 2030 49 TWh (approximately 11 GW) of energy is generated by wind power.

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UK Advances Floating OSW: NGESO’s first grid solutions for Celtic Sea projects out

UK Advances Floating OSW: NGESO’s first grid solutions for Celtic Sea projects out

November 18, 2024 | ,

To accelerate innovation and investment in OSW, in July 2024, the UK government set up a new publicly-owned energy company, ‘Great British Energy’, with a capitalisation of GBP8.3 billion of new money. This company has formed a partnership with TCE to work together to bring forward new OSW developments, with the potential to deliver up to 20-30 GW of extra OSW seabed leases to the market by 2030. The UK is making pioneering efforts to develop floating OSW at scale along with a more coordinated approach to electricity transmission network planning for OSW.

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German renewables hit records in the first nine months of 2024: EMBER

German renewables hit records in the first nine months of 2024: EMBER

November 10, 2024 | ,

Germany achieved a record share of wind and solar in its electricity mix over the first nine months of 2024, exceeding fossil fuels for the first time. New solar capacity additions in the first nine months of 2024 show that Germany is continuing the record pace set in 2023. Germany alone accounted for 26% of EU wind generation growth in the first nine months of this year. The increase in renewables’ share was driven by wind and solar, which combined grew from 40% in 2023 to 45% in 2024. Meanwhile, the share of hydro increased from 4% to 5% and bioenergy remained largely unchanged.

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Energy Trends and GHG Emissions in EU

Energy Trends and GHG Emissions in EU

November 4, 2024 | , ,

Preliminary estimates for 2023 are based on the approximated GHG inventories submitted by Member States and indicate that EU-wide GHG emissions have decreased by 8% compared to 2022 within the scope of the European Climate Law. This significant reduction over the course of a year is largely driven by decreases in emissions from the power sector, with additional reductions in the industry and buildings sectors. In absolute terms, the overall 8% decrease represents a reduction of 270 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (Mt CO2e), more than four times the average annual decrease reported since 2005. When compared to the 2030 target, the emissions reductions are substantial.

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Energy Outlook for EU and Eurasia: IEA

Energy Outlook for EU and Eurasia: IEA

October 21, 2024 | ,

The drive to decarbonise power generation and the impacts of the energy crisis together have brought the cost structures of electricity systems in EUs member states under close scrutiny. Clean energy transitions depend heavily on electrification and expansion of renewables, both of which require significant changes in electricity systems. The diversity of electricity mixes and decarbonisation pathways chosen by the various member states adds to the challenges. Russia plays an outsized role in the energy architecture of the region, but the continuing war between Russia and Ukraine, following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, is shifting priorities and creates huge uncertainty for projections of energy demand and supply.

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Europe’s Renewables Capacity to Cross 1,500 GW by 2030: IEA

Europe’s Renewables Capacity to Cross 1,500 GW by 2030: IEA

October 14, 2024 | ,

Europe’s cumulative renewable capacity is forecast to increase 700 GW (78%), from 894 GW in 2023 to almost 1 600 GW by 2030. The majority (70%) of the expansion is concentrated in just seven countries, led by Germany, followed by the United Kingdom, Italy, Türkiye, France, Spain and the Netherlands. Solar PV makes up the largest share by far, at almost 70% of the region’s capacity growth during 2024-2030. Over the forecast period, 478 GW of solar PV is forecast to come online, more than three times onshore wind and eight times more than offshore. The European Union is on track to fulfill its 2030 ambitions for solar PV, but more effort is needed for wind 

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Wind and Solar overtook EU fossil generation for the first time: EMBER

Wind and Solar overtook EU fossil generation for the first time: EMBER

August 5, 2024 | , , ,

Fossil generation continues to fall in the EU, even as demand rebounds. Wind and solar rise to new highs, reaching a share of 30% of EU electricity generation and overtaking fossil fuels for the first time. Even as electricity demand began to rebound in the first half of 2024, strong wind and solar growth pushed fossil generation into continued decline. The first six months of 2024 saw fossil fuels continue to decline, even as EU electricity demand began to recover from the impacts of the gas price crisis. Fossil fuels generated 17% less than in the same period in 2023 (-71 TWh), while demand grew by 0.7% (+9 TWh).

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