Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and subsequent war, the European Commission proposed a plan to end its energy dependency from Russian fossil fuels “well before 2030.” The plan, labelled as REPowerEU 2022/0230, outlined the EU’s objective to reduce its fossil gas imports from Russia by two-thirds by the end of 2022. The EU Commission aimed to speed up renewable energy deployment in Europe to replace fossil gas in power generation, to diversify the region’s fossil gas supplies through greater Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and pipeline imports, and to amend Fit for 55 legislation currently passing through Parliament and Council to support reducing annual fossil gas consumption.
After intense engagement from the utilities and energy sectors to preserve a role for fossil fuels in the REPowerEU file, the agreed policy includes financing for additional gas and liquified natural gas infrastructure. Targets on renewable energy and energy efficiency were agreed in the relevant reforms of the Renewable Energy Directive and Energy Efficiency Directive, which set lower 2030 targets than those proposed by the EU Commission under RePowerEU.
IPCC aligned transition from carbon-emitting technologies; and renewable energy
Inactive: completed. In February 2023 the EU Council, Commission and Parliament adopted the file.
IPCC aligned transition from carbon-emitting technologies; and renewable energy
Inactive: completed. In February 2023 the EU Council, Commission and Parliament adopted the file.
In its Annual Report 2022, published on 23 January 2023, Eurelectric expressed support for the REPowerEU plan to decarbonize and electrify the European economy, and supported the European law to phase out internal combustion engines by 2035.
In its 2023 Manifesto, released on 16th January, Iberdrola welcomed RePowerEU as one of the most ambitious policies in the world, and advocated a range of measures to rapidly transition the energy mix from fossil fuels.
In a Euronews article from 8th December, SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger was quoted as supporting a 45% renewable energy target in the RePower EU plan, stating that 45% is the “only direction of travel.”
On 8th December in a joint statement, heavy industry associations including Eurofer, European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), CEMBUREAU and FuelsEurope supported the proposed REPowerEU policy to decarbonize industry in Europe and advocated for EU funds to roll out low-carbon projects.
In a declaration to the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council on 25th November, the Presidents of BusinessEurope, VNO-NCW, Mouvement des Entreprises de France, Confederation of Business Industry, Federation of German Industries, and Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations supported deploying additional fossil gas capacity in Europe as well as renewable, nuclear and 'low-carbon' energy to respond to the energy crisis, whilst emphasizing the risk of deindustrialization from the EU’s decarbonization.
In a press release published on 14th November, SolarPower Europe supported the ambitious position of the European Parliament on the RePowerEU package, including additional protections to guarantee that Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) money is being directed towards developing renewable projects, and to prevent fossil fuel infrastructure from being funded through the RRF mechanism. Furthermore, the entity supported a 45% renewable energies target as the most cost-effective path to a climate neutral EU in a tweet on 10th November.
In a 26th September blog post on its corporate website, Fortum advocated for the REPowerEU proposal to support a technology neutral approach and provide less of a focus on renewable energy. The post did not support strengthening European energy efficiency policy and reducing energy demand, stating it would overlap with other climate objectives and the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. It also did not support stringent criteria for renewable hydrogen production, including the additionality principle, in the EU Renewable Energy Directive reform.
In a joint white paper, companies including thyssenkrupp, E.On, Fortescue Metals and Covestro strongly advocated for a range of policies in Germany and the EU to support the scale up of green hydrogen, including to support policies linked to the RePower EU initiative.
WindEurope and Eurofer published a joint statement on 21st June supporting the RePower EU legislation to scale up renewable energy and renewable hydrogen to decarbonize industry.
Iberdrola CEO Ignacio Galan advocated for greater development of renewable hydrogen, and supported targets within the REPowerEU proposal in a 31st May press release from WindEurope. Meanwhile, in a 30th May social media post, EDF supported the REPowerEU proposal to aid transitioning away from fossil fuels. It also called for the integration of nuclear and hydro power.
In a 31st May newsletter, Eurogas Secretary General, James Watson, appeared to support measures for biomethane and green hydrogen in the REPowerEU proposal. However, it also promoted the role of unabated fossil gas, for coal to gas transitions and improvements in air quality.
In a press release on 31st May, VNO-NCW supported increasing fossil gas production in the North Sea to diversify the energy mix in Europe away from dependency on Russian fossil fuels. In a press release on 25th May, the association supported the EU’s RePower EU initiative.
In a message to the Special European Council on 30th-31st May, BusinessEurope supported the RePower EU proposal with major exceptions. The association did not support a windfall tax, advocating for the expansion of fossil gas exploration and production in the EU. However, it supported speeding up permitting processes for renewable energy.
In a position paper published on 19th May, CEMBUREAU supported the EU Commission’s proposal for the RePower EU initiative with some exceptions. The association supported increasing electrification and renewable energy deployment through the policy, but also advocated for RePower EU to support the use of alternative waste, such as plastic waste, in cement production.
Meanwhile, in a position paper also published on the 19th May, Eurofer supported the EU Commission’s proposal for the RePower EU initiative with major exceptions. The association supported increasing hydrogen production and renewable energy deployment through the policy, but also advocated for fossil gas as a transition technology without placing conditions on carbon capture and storage. It also did not support reforms to the EU Energy Taxation Directive, including removing tax reductions for energy-intensive industries.
In a position paper published on 18th May, Cefic supported the EU Commission’s proposal for the RePower EU initiative with major exceptions. The association supported increasing low-carbon and renewable energy production through the policy, but also advocated for RePower EU to support fossil gas pipelines and more Liquified Natural Gas infrastructure.
In an 18th May press release, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) supported EU plans to accelerate renewable energy planning and approvals within the RePowerEU proposal, aimed at eliminating the EU’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels. It also supported increased hydrogen production and usage as part of the RePowerEU proposal eliminating the EU’s reliance on Russian fossil fuels, however appeared not to support stringent production criteria, calling for "pragmatism" and "flexible" green electricity criteria
In 23rd May article in S&P Global, RWE CEO Markus Krebber did not appear to support the renewable hydrogen requirements in the EU’s REPowerEU proposal. Industry group Hydrogen Europe took a similar position, not supporting additionality and temporal correlation requirements.
In an 18th May press release, GasNaturally’s President, Dawn Summers, advocated for the promotion of unabated fossil gas and fossil gas imports in the EU’s REPowerEU proposal. Summers also supported accelerating the deployment of biomethane and hydrogen.
Following the EU Commission’s REPowerEU announcement, several energy sector industry associations including WindEurope and SolarPower Europe supported the proposal, particularly measures to accelerate renewable energy. Utility Iberdrola’s CEO, Ignacio Galan, stated that REPowerEU would help accelerate investments into renewable energy and green hydrogen.
On 11th May, ahead of the REPowerEU plan, Corporate Leaders Group (CLG) Europe published a joint letter that advocated for increased ambition on the Renewable Energy Directive, and advocated for increased ambition and action on the Energy Efficiency Directive and Energy Performance of Building Directives.
On 11th May, ahead of the REPowerEU plan, Corporate Leaders Group (CLG) Europe published a joint letter supporting the EU’s aim to phase out dependence on Russian fossil fuels, and strengthen Europe’s energy resilience by accelerating the green transition. In the letter, Eliot Whittington, director of CLG Europe, urged the EU to “not miss the opportunity of the REPowerEU Plan to keep a 1.5°C compatible future in reach”.
In a 12th May statement, the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) advocated a mixed position on the transition of the energy mix. ERT advocated for the EU to reduce its demand for gas, broadly supporting the EU Gas and Hydrogen Decarbonization Package, and carbon contracts for difference, however it also supported increasing fossil gas production and infrastructure, and "renewable and low carbon" hydrogen.
In a 4th May position paper, Gas Infrastructure Europe advocated for new LNG infrastructure and promoted the role of unabated fossil gas to displace coal power. The group also called for more LNG imports to diversify the European energy mix away from Russian fossil fuels, while also supporting fast tracking renewable hydrogen projects and imports.
In an opinion piece for Euractiv, published on the 29th April, Eurofer Director General Axel Eggert cited the war as justification for slowing down the EU Commission’s proposed phase out of free allowances in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) alongside the implementation of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Axel Eggert also did not support proposed reforms to the EU ETS to rebase the emissions cap and strengthen the Market Stability Reserve, stressing the impacts of a unilateral and high carbon price and international competitiveness. However, Eggert also advocated for the RePowerEU and Gas and Hydrogen Decarbonisation package to increase renewable electricity and green hydrogen since the war in Ukraine “undermined the possible role of gas as a transition fuel.”
The news outlet DW reported on 21st April that BASF subsidiary Wintershall Dea supported diversifying the energy mix in Europe away from dependency on Russian fossil fuels, by supporting new oil infrastructure. It also suggested that fracking in Germany is technically feasible, but not politically possible.
In a position paper on the RePowerEU legislation, published on 20th April, Cembureau advocated for the inclusion of low-carbon energy sources in the initiative, and it was in favor of simplified and harmonized sustainability criteria in the reform of the Renewable Energy Directive for waste-biomass. The association also supported policies to increase the use of non-recyclable waste and biomass to replace fossil fuels in cement production.
In an EU public consultation response on 12th April, BusinessEurope advocated for shorter permitting processes for renewable energy plants and increased support for power purchase agreements in the reform of the Renewable Energy Directive and the RePowerEU initiative. However, the association also supported keeping concessions for energy-intensive industry, in the form of renewable energy levy reductions.
In a 13th April joint letter to EU policymakers, industry associations WindEurope and SolarPower Europe supported the EU Commission’s REPowerEU plan to reduce the bloc’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels. The letter also advocated for an increase in renewable energy capacity and storage investments in the EU.
The table below lists the entities found to be most engaged with the policy. The entities are ranked by performance band. InfluenceMap tracks over 500 companies and 250 industry associations globally. Each entity name links to its full InfluenceMap profile, where the evidence of its engagement can be found.
| Influencemap Performance Band | Organization | Policy Position | Policy Engagement Intensity |
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