How to power a fair and competitive transition?
“To deliver a green transition in a competitive way, we must ensure the supply of clean and affordable energy – in the volumes required and within the necessary timeframe”, said our Director General Markus J. Beyrer at the opening of European Sustainable Energy Week on 10 June in Brussels.
He underlined that Europe’s energy reality remains challenging. In 2023, industrial electricity prices were more than twice as high as in 2019 and still far above those in key partner countries. “These aren’t just statistics, they shape investment decisions and cost jobs”, Beyrer warned, citing examples of recent closures due to high production costs. He called for a coherent, technology-neutral framework to support investment in energy generation, storage, and infrastructure. Beyrer welcomed the direction of the Clean Industrial Deal, as it acknowledges the need to strengthen the business case for the green transition. “But it remains a strategy, it can only go so far”, he noted. “We need concrete next steps to accelerate energy deployment, shorten permitting times, and close the energy price gap. Only by making the transition work for business can we turn it into a success story for Europe."
