“Deutschland – Einstieg in die Deindustrialisierung?” – “Germany, the beginning of deindustrialisation?” asked the German economic newspaper Handelsblatt in the context of the spike in energy prices that has put at risk thousands of companies across Germany in 2022. Whereas...

European energy policy

The European energy policy research axis whithin Ifri's Center for Energy & Climate examines the major policy regulatory issues of the European internal and external energy policies, with a focus on the integration of energy markets and the deployment of low-carbon technologies.
Director of Ifri’s Center for Energy & Climate
...Research Fellow, Center for Energy & Climate
...Senior Advisor, Center for Energy & Climate
Associate Research Fellow, Center for Energy & Climate
...Associate Research Fellow, Center for Energy & Climate
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Strengthening the Dynamics of Renewable Electricity in Europe Briefings de l'Ifri, November 22, 2022
We have made considerable progress in twelve years and the new European Union targets change the scale of renewables, facilitating the electrification of uses. Renewable energies must be pushed to the maximum regardless the future of nuclear power generation.
The European Green Deal (EGD) is the single most defining policy initiative of the von der Leyen Commission. Since its publication in December 2019, it has become the European Union’s (EU) new raison d’être: protecting the planet and Europeans from environmental...
For decades, the large Groningen gas field has been a central pillar of the Dutch welfare state. The availability of gas was so self-evident that many generations still identify with the slogan “Nederland gasland” (“The Netherlands, a gas country”). The nearing end of Dutch gas now...
Only eight years are left to expand by almost three times the current total installed wind and solar energy capacity in the European Union (EU) in adding around 600 gigawatts (GW), and so reach the highly-ambitious 2030 targets. This requires a mobilization whose scale is immense – amidst...
The climate and geopolitical crises call for speeding up the implementation of the European Green Deal around two main pillars: reducing energy consumption and investing in low-carbon alternatives. The swift and massive deployment of renewable energies (REN) is a major industrial challenge for...
On its path to carbon neutrality, the European Union (EU) will be exposed to growing energy price volatility and vulnerable to Russian and Chinese pressure on supply and demand.
All key candidates have climate neutrality by 2045 in sight, yet Germany is preparing to embark on a high-speed decarbonization train that has neither enough power nor rails to lead to its final destination. Beyond slogans and principles, effective strategies have often been missing.
A second wave of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects is under development, and it is much different from the 2000 wave. While Norway, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are at its forefront, France and Germany have major competencies, and many projects could be carried...
The European Union’s energy infrastructure policy has become obsolete with the adoption of both the Green Deal and the 2050 climate neutrality target. The ongoing review of the regulation on Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E) should lead to an-depth discussion on Europe’s energy transition...
Protection of Biodiversity – Perspectives after COP15 Webinar
At COP15 on Biodiversity in Montreal last month, a historical deal was reached, which includes the goal of protecting 30% of the world’s land and water ecosystems, mobilizing USD 200 billion, and moving away from environmentally harmful investments.
The EU’s Power System by 2030: Navigating the Crisis and Keeping the Decarbonization Cap Ifri Seminars
The combination of the climate crisis and Russia’s war in Ukraine makes the case for a much faster transition to a fully decarbonized power system.
REPowerEU: How to Deliver on the Hydrogen Accelerator? Ifri Green Deal Virtual Lunch Series
The first REPowerEU proposals aimed at reducing Russian gas demand, boosting resilience and decarbonization, call for a hydrogen accelerator with 10 Mt of additional hydrogen imports by 2030 and 5 Mt of additional domestic production, compared to 10 Mt of domestic production planned in the Fit...
Europe’s energy system facing multiple shocks: market adjustments and policy responses Ifri Green Deal Virtual Lunch Series
Russia’s war with Ukraine has multiple spillover effects on Europe’s energy systems which face multiple threats adding up to systemic weaknesses and challenges.
Europe’s Gas Squeeze: Back to Normal in 2022? Ifri Green Deal Virtual Lunch Series
While Russia and the United States have enjoyed record high export prices for their gas and competitive supplies at home, Europe, alongside other importers, has suffered from record gas bills and physical supply restrictions.
Germany's Energy and Climate Policies after the Parliamentary Elections
Germany's September Parliamentary elections opened the way for coalition negotiations that may last until December. Yet first hints at directions and red lines in energy and climate policy can be identified as the country must prepare for an accelerated decarbonisation.
Climate, Trade and Industrial Policy: What Strategy for the European Union? Les Jeudis de l'Ifri
A "Les Jeudis de l'Ifri" videoconférence around Carole MATHIEU, Head of EU Policies, Center for Energy & Climate.
Building up a Green Alliance between Japan and Europe: Opportunities and Challenges
The EU-Japan Green Alliance has been adopted during the 27th EU-Japan Summit in May 2021.
The ‘Fit-for-55’ Package: A Giant Leap for the European Economy? Ifri Green Deal Virtual Lunch Series
With the “Fit for 55” package, the European Union (EU) is the first global player to turn its climate neutrality pledge into a wide set of transformative policy proposals.
Italy’s Green Recovery Strategy and the European Climate Agenda Ifri Green Deal Virtual Lunch Series
Italy is firmly committed to decarbonizing its economy, with policy measures including phasing out coal by 2025, encouraging home renovations with generous tax breaks and expanding the use of renewables in the electricity, heating, and transport sectors.
The European Green Deal (EGD) is the single most defining policy initiative of the Von der Leyen Commission. Since its publication in December 2019, it has become the European Union’s (EU) new raison d’être.
Replay from Ifri's conference at the European Parliament in Brussels (October 11, 2022). The combination of the climate crisis and Russia’s war in Ukraine makes the case for a much faster transition to a fully decarbonized power system.
Some of Europe’s poorest countries and communities would be hardest hit by disruptions of Russian energy supplies. With a difficult winter ahead, Europe’s ability to redistribute costs equitably and to shield the most vulnerable will determine whether it can preserve social cohesion and the...
Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), makes 5 key recommendations for the future of French energy & climate policies to foster energy security and achieve climate objectives:
Following the 18 May Franco-German initiative and ahead of next week's critical presentation (27 May) by the European Commission of the European recovery plan aligned with the carbon neutrality objective, Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega, Director of Ifri's Center for Energy &...
The price of CO2 credits on Europe’s emissions trading scheme needs to rise to around €50 per tonne in order to drive the long-term development of Europe’s biomethane industry, says Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega, a French researcher.
The prospects for biogas in Europe look bright, with conservative estimates pointing to a tenfold increase in production by 2030. However, the industry will need to stay rooted in the local economy and come clean on environmental credentials if it wants to avoid a green backlash, analysts say....
Over and again, legislators worldwide are confronting the same question: which technologies do we subsidise and support, when, by how much, and for how long. Get it right and those costs will reduce and should disappear once scale is reached. Solar and wind are on their way to proving...
Carole Mathieu of the French Institute of International Relations explains some of the developments between the EU battery manufacturing and automaker industries and how they impact on the region's contributions towards the global energy storage market.
Belgium is slowly phasing out its aging nuclear energy infrastructure. But looming winter weather, limited renewable options and a poorly connected electricity network have left the country at risk of blackouts.