European Sustainable Energy Week 2025
What was of interest at the EUSEW2025?
The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is the biggest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe. It is organised by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the Directorate-General for Energy.
I have made a selection of the five online events that have been the most interesting for me to listen to. For each one, I’ve distilled the key ideas into concise summaries, along with my personal takeaway that captures the essence of what resonated most.
From tech to net-zero: Keeping Europe competitive with offshore wind, heat pumps, and ocean energy for a net-zero future
New technological solutions for transforming regional industry are a pivotal step for Europe's transition to climate neutrality and for achieving industrial competitiveness. This session focuses on initiatives contributing to the EU's energy and climate goals, emphasising the decarbonisation of industry through energy efficiency, industrial electrification, low-carbon fuels, carbon capture, and sustainable feedstocks. The objective is to bridge the gap between research and market applications while supporting the EU's manufacturing capacity for Net Zero technologies.
My notes:
Key Themes & Objectives
This high-impact session addressed how Europe can meet its climate and energy goals by focusing on industrial decarbonization through:
Energy efficiency
Electrification
Low-carbon fuels
Carbon capture
Sustainable feedstocks
A central aim was bridging the gap between research and market application while strengthening EU manufacturing capacity for net-zero technologies.
Introduction & Keynote Highlights
Emphasis on greening legacy industries and industrializing clean tech.
A call for coherent policies that support both traditional sectors and emerging technologies.
The Cleantech Friendship Group in the European Parliament seeks to embed clean tech into cross-sector legislation.
Round table Discussions
Technological Leadership & Living Labs
Davide Amato (European Commission): Urged aggressive tech deployment to meet 2050 targets.
Werner Lange (TU Munich): Advocated for campuses as “living labs” of sustainable innovation.
Philippe Dobrinsky (Institut Polytechnique de Paris): Promoted localized action and experimentation.
Francois Gaspard (Île-de-France Region): Addressed clean tech in public transport, especially buses.
Remi (Ocean Energy Europe): Highlighted innovation hurdles in ocean energy, urging scale-up investments.
Q&A Insights
Universities must actively engage in real ecosystems for clean tech.
Governance reforms need academic support, particularly via the European Energy Research Alliance.
Challenges in bus electrification underline the need for stable policies and scaling up.
Ocean energy requires university-industry collaboration to overcome deployment barriers.
A strong message: continue climate action despite political pushback on the Green Deal.
Second Round table: Best Practices
Henrik Frandsen (DTU): Explored ammonia’s potential as a clean shipping fuel.
Anna Baya (Rift): Introduced iron fuel tech for industrial heat—highlighting public and industry collaboration.
Closing reflections noted that while technology is available, deployment hinges on overcoming economic and societal barriers.
Conclusion & Strategic Takeaways
Clean energy tech is mature—but needs robust implementation frameworks.
Political will, stable legislation, and public engagement are crucial.
Participants were urged to communicate these lessons to their MEPs for policy impact.
2. EU industrial policy and clean energy transition: state of play
Co-organised by Cefic & IFIEC, the session takes stock of industrial policy in the EU and its interface with the sustainable energy transition through concrete project examples, aiming to formulate concrete recommendations.
My notes:
Key Themes
The European Green Deal merges climate goals with competitiveness.
Clean Industrial Deal and Affordable Energy Action Plan target energy accessibility and decarbonization.
Active industrial policy is needed to spur innovation and address stagnating investments.
Sector Snapshots
Fertilizers (Yara): CCS vital; infrastructure and renewable access remain barriers.
Chemicals (Dow): High energy needs demand diverse supply and clearer permitting.
Both sectors call for binding targets and a technology-neutral approach.
Energy Market & Flexibility
Price volatility and lack of flexibility threaten competitiveness.
Storage and smarter systems are key; current market incentives fall short.
Low-Carbon Product Strategies
Gradual regulations and certification needed.
Public procurement useful outside of fertilizers.
Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)
Verification is crucial. Regulatory updates and financing support underway.
Challenges
Infrastructure bottlenecks (grid, permitting), weak market signals, and investment uncertainty risk deindustrialization.
Disparities in energy price dynamics need attention.
Next Steps
Regulatory review of CCS + ETS planned for early next year.
Launch of Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act by year-end.
Pilot program for decarbonizing industrial heating is on deck.
3. Clean tech value chains as EU’s competitive edge and decarbonisation agenda
Debate and interactive game on clean tech value chains, their role in the energy transition, their manufacturing challenges, and ideas to strengthen supply chains while meeting EU climate goals. People behind clean tech projects share their experience and participants get to step into their shoes through the online game.
My notes:
Objective
Explore the clean tech value chain as a driver of EU competitiveness and decarbonization. Focus areas included project promotion, raw material access, manufacturing bottlenecks, and policy alignment.
Core Challenges
Infrastructure Setup: New technologies lack permitting benchmarks, complicating financing and scaling.
Raw Materials: EU dependency on imports (notably China) calls for enhanced recycling and mining efforts.
Investment Decisions: High energy costs, hydrogen uncertainty, and burdensome regulation deter private investment.
Market Demand: Weak demand signals limit clean tech adoption—push–pull policies needed.
Policy Barriers: Permit delays and pricing structures hinder project momentum.
Key Questions Explored
Timeframes for clean tech project setup
Raw material sourcing complexities
Current technologies under development
Strategies to stimulate market demand
Commission initiatives to strengthen supply chains
4. Exploring energy efficiency: perspectives from communities and industries
The session explores the personal success stories of individuals driving change, scaling up energy efficiency, industry innovation, and empowering communities to shape an inclusive and sustainable EU energy transition.
My notes:
Energy Efficiency = Largest Source: Viewed as the leading untapped energy asset in the climate transition.
Electrification & Renovation: Critical synergies explored for maximizing building performance and urban decarbonization.
Industry Potential: Danfoss and others showcased major savings; calls for investment and stronger audit systems followed.
Skilled Workforce & Info Gaps: Training for contractors and improved public knowledge were flagged as essential.
Policy Anchoring: Strong support for a 2040 efficiency target; stable regulations are key to driving investment.
5. Making the transition investable: Aligning policy to accelerate finance for the Clean Industrial Deal.
The session explores how to make the transition more investable, and how to mobilise investments for the Clean Industrial Deal, by aligning transition planning policies across EU, member states, and private sector levels.
My notes:
Objective
Unlocking up to €800 billion annually in clean industry financing.
Key Insights
Massive Capital Need: €750–800B yearly investment required through 2030 to meet EU goals.
Policy Alignment: Coordination across EU, national, global, and private sectors is essential.
Investor Priorities: Regulatory stability, sectoral roadmaps, and financial enablement drive confidence.
Framework Proposal: A unified EU transition framework will streamline instruments and synchronize funding timelines.
Panel Perspectives
EIB: Macroeconomic pressures and energy costs hinder industrial investments.
Robeco: National transition plans must better align with corporate strategies.
Aviva: Balanced policy needed to draw private capital.
Enel: Integrated planning and sustainable finance critical for execution.
Challenges
High energy prices undercut competitiveness.
Early investment hampered by complex tech and low financial incentives.
Regulatory unpredictability threatens long-term capital flow.
Disconnect between national climate goals and industry readiness risks misallocation.
Next Steps
Develop decarbonisation roadmaps linking tech and policy.
Create feedback loops across governance levels.
Target public finance toward first-of-a-kind and logistically complex projects to reduce risk and attract private investment.
Wrapping It All Up
After diving into five sessions on Europe’s clean tech journey, one thing is clear: we’re not short on solutions, we’re short on momentum. From energy efficiency and electrification to industrial innovation and smart finance, the pieces are all there. What’s missing is the glue: strong policies, steady leadership, and everyday action.
These sessions reminded us that it’s not enough to dream big. We need to build fast, work together, and keep our eyes on what really drives progress, clear rules, local involvement, reliable investment, and the ability to scale what already works.
Whether it’s using less energy, making cleaner products, or financing the future, success will come from the quiet wins behind the scenes: better planning, smarter systems, and the courage to make things happen. Europe’s green transition isn’t just about technology, it’s about trust, teamwork, and turning ambition into reality.
