Renewables

Offshore wind: France aims for 45 GW by 2050 with 50% European production

Est. 4min

On a visit to Saint-Nazaire on Thursday (May 2), Bruno Le Maire outlined the government's strategy for achieving 45 GW of offshore wind power while not leaving the European wind turbine industry. 

Advocacy Lab Content
Energy 24-04-2024

Nuclear gains favour in Europe, but financing struggles remain

Est. 6min

Though EU countries remain divided about nuclear power, the insecurity brought on by the war in Ukraine has sparked increased interest from politicians not seen in decades. But are they willing to match big talk with big wallets?

EU to world: Don’t depend solely on China to hit renewable goals

Est. 3min

The world should ensure diverse supply chains and implement a framework to track the progress made towards tripling global renewable capacity by 2030, the EU's Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (17 April). 

Enrico Letta's pending report is expected to identify the single energy market as "Europe’s best asset to ensure its success in a novel global order” [File photo]
Electricity 18-04-2024

The Letta report: What’s in the box for Europe’s energy sector

Est. 4min

Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is set to present his report on the future of Europe’s single market to EU leaders on Thursday 18 April. A deepening of Europe’s Energy Union is a key priority, along with several targeted recommendations on how to transform Europe’s energy sector.

France must not cave to Brussels on renewables, says ex-energy minister Pannier-Runacher

Est. 4min

France should continue refusing to include renewable targets in its energy-climate plan, which is due to be submitted to the European Commission in June, the country's former Energy Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher said on Tuesday (26 March).

Energy 07-03-2024

Departing from coal: Poland’s new energy roadmap

Est. 4min

The election of a new government in Poland has enabled this Central European country to revive its ambitions in terms of energy transition and to meet European targets.

France’s Le Maire slams EU’s ‘no longer wanted’ renewable targets

Est. 5min

The EU's renewable energy targets adopted in March last year are too restrictive and unsatisfactory as climate goals, French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, who took over the environment portfolio in a recent government reshuffle, said on Monday (4 March).

Record year for wind farms raises hope for EU green energy goals

Est. 2min

Europe's wind firms have faced a bleak period of supply chain setbacks, inflation and equipment problems - although Danish turbine manufacturer Vestas (VWS.CO) returned to profit in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Solar PV industry caught up in China forced-labour controversy

Est. 5min

Political momentum is swaying in favour of European solar panel manufacturers, as work progresses on a new EU law banning forced labour practices that would effectively block Chinese imports.

EU Commission urges France to raise renewables target to ‘at least 44%’

Est. 3min

The EU's energy commissioner, Kadri Simson, has urged France to raise its renewable energy target to "at least 44%" by 2030, warning it would consider taking "steps" at EU level in case of persistent shortcomings.

EU Commission cautions against trade measures to support solar industry

Est. 2min

The European Union needs to take into account its ambitious targets for solar power deployment before it considers any measures to curb imports of photovoltaic panels, wafers and other components, a senior EU official said on Monday (5 February).

Economy 05-02-2024

Solar industry calls for ‘emergency measures’ as manufacturers prepare to leave Europe

Est. 6min

European solar panel manufacturers have warned they are “poised to shut down manufacturing lines” unless the EU takes emergency measures to save the sector, such as a buy-out of their inventories, which have piled up in recent years due to an influx of cheaper versions from China.

Germany risks missing its 2030 offshore wind target, industry warns

Est. 4min

Germany’s offshore wind energy targets are at risk amid lagging construction rates and grid connection delays, prompting industry calls for additional government support.

Renewables roll-out in France too slow to meet EU targets – report

Est. 5min

France is lagging behind its initial renewable energy targets for 2023, although it is set to pick up the pace by 2030, but not enough to meet EU targets, the latest figures from the French Renewable Energy Observatory published on Thursday (25 January) show.

Estonia plans small nuclear reactor to quit oil shale by 2030

Est. 7min

Estonia plans to build a small modular reactor (SMR) to wean itself off the addiction to polluting oil shale and meet its target of producing 100% decarbonised electricity by 2030. A vote in Parliament is expected "in the first half of 2024," officials say.

France backtracks on renewables targets, amends draft ‘energy sovereignty’ bill

Est. 5min

France's draft energy sovereignty bill will not include any targets at all, at least for now, the office of French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire has confirmed, responding to criticism about the bill's lack of consideration for renewables and over-emphasis on nuclear.

Germany’s last solar panel producer prepares to close shop

Est. 5min

Meyer Burger, the biggest producer of solar modules in Germany, has announced plans to close down and relocate to the US, fuelling political debates on whether the industry deserves long-term state support to ensure its survival.

EU built record new wind farms last year but lags green energy goal

Est. 2min

European Union countries built 17 gigawatts of new wind power farms in 2023, the most for any year so far, but still not enough to reach its renewable energy goal, industry data showed on Friday (12 January).

France’s ‘last mile’ strategy for renewables under fire from all sides

Est. 7min

France's draft 'energy sovereignty' law, recently unveiled by the government, has caused quite a stir for its apparent dismissal of renewable energies, which are placed at the bottom of the list of low-carbon energies, behind nuclear.

IEA renewables report 2023: Europe’s growth becoming solar success story

Est. 4min

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is forecasting a 61% share for renewable electricity in Europe by 2028, partly due to an unprecedented surge of previously unforeseen solar panel installations.

Brussels clears French ‘green’ state aid worth over €8 billion in just one month

Est. 3min

In the space of just one month, the European Commission has approved more than €8 billion in French state aid to decarbonise industry and develop renewable energies, according to EU figures released this week.

France, Czechia defy EU sceptics on nuclear power

Est. 7min

France and Czechia reiterated calls on Tuesday (9 January) for the European Commission to put nuclear power on an equal footing with renewable energies in all EU policies, putting traditional nuclear sceptic countries on the defensive.

Electricity 09-01-2024

2023: A bumper year for Germany’s renewable electricity sector

Est. 5min

Germany’s power sector emissions dropped to their lowest level in 70 years in 2023 while moving past the 50% threshold for renewable electricity production for the first time. However, this is partly attributed to falling industrial production, casting doubt on the country's performance.

Politics 08-01-2024

Austria boasts Europe’s second-greenest power sector in 2023

Est. 2min

Austria generated 87% of its power from renewable sources in 2023 following record years of solar panel expansion, putting it behind Luxembourg in the EU rankings.