Affordable energy and competitiveness

The competitiveness of European industry is becoming an increasing concern, not least due to energy prices that are significantly higher than in other parts of the world. High energy costs also impact commercial and residential consumers. In his report last year, Professor Mario Draghi noted that “EU companies still face electricity prices that are 2–3 times those in the US, and natural gas prices paid are 4–5 times higher.” Energy poverty among EU households is also on the rise.

In response, the European Commission is proposing new policies, including those based on Professor Draghi’s recommendations. This workshop will explore the Commission’s recent proposals in three key areas: accelerating the deployment of new types of renewable energy, speeding up procedures for the rollout of grids and storage, and reforming electricity network charges.

The workshop is structured in three thematic sessions:

• Session I (morning): Will examine the potential of innovative renewable energy technologies (e.g. ocean energy and floating offshore wind), new forms of deployment (e.g. agrisolar, floating solar, vehicle-integrated PV), and how Member States can create clear regulatory frameworks to support their uptake.

• Session II (morning): Will focus on urgently expanding and reinforcing electricity grids, alongside the accelerated deployment of storage solutions, to support rising renewable generation, demand growth, and the removal of grid constraints.

• Session III (afternoon): Will address how energy regulators can design tariffs that reflect system needs, incentivise flexibility, and encourage consumption when electricity is cheapest, making better use of existing infrastructure.

Kindly note that this event is by invitation only.