Ministerial session - Electrification and industrial policy

When: Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 9:30 - 11:00
Where: N103, N104

Session description

Wind energy is becoming a leading power source, offering affordable, clean, homegrown electricity. If harnessed effectively, it can lower industrial energy costs, drive decarbonisation, and strengthen Europe’s industrial base.
Yet today, only 23% of Europe’s final energy use is electric. The EU aims to raise this to 32% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. Achieving this requires overcoming persistent challenges: high electricity prices in many parts of Europe, infrastructure bottlenecks, and slow uptake of electrification technologies. Without action, Europe risks losing key industries to regions with cheaper energy.
To stay competitive, Europe must accelerate electrification. That means scaling up public and private investment, expanding grids, and implementing industrial policy tools like the Clean Industrial Deal and the upcoming Electrification Action Plan.
Pioneering projects—from green steel in Spain and Sweden to renewable-powered chemical production—show that industrial electrification is not only possible, but already underway where the right conditions exist.
The current global energy crisis, triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, reinforces the urgency of Europe’s 2022 decision to move away from imported fossil fuels. Energy security, affordability, and sovereignty now depend on scaling up domestic renewables and ensuring industries can access clean electricity at scale.
This session will explore how to shift gears on electrification—supporting Europe’s industries to thrive in a renewables-powered economy and delivering on the promise of energy security and prosperity.