The share of electrical energy has remained stuck at 23 percent over the past ten years, and that needs to increase. The European Commission aims to double the share of electricity in energy consumption to 46 percent by 2040, thereby reducing the European Union’s dependence on gas and oil imports.

“The current heatwaves in Europe and the additional costs for gas and oil imports resulting from the war in Iran underscore once again that the European Union must accelerate the shift to electricity generated from clean energy sources,” said European Commissioner Dan Jørgensen.

Clean alternatives

“More than 70 percent of electricity is now generated from clean energy sources, yet the share of electricity in final energy consumption has stagnated at around 23 percent over the past decade. After all, it is far more expensive than gas.

By aligning gas and electricity prices, Brussels hopes that businesses and citizens will switch to cleaner alternatives, such as large-scale batteries, electric cars, and heat pumps.

The most significant electrification needs to take place in three areas: industry, infrastructure, and buildings. The last of these is particularly challenging, as many buildings in Europe are heated with fossil fuels. Later this year, Jorgensen intends to put forward proposals for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies.