EDITORIAL
The 2023 report on the competitiveness of clean energy technologies in the European Union (EU) reveals that, while the EU maintains its leadership in clean energy research, it is increasingly reliant on imports for certain critical technologies.
Published as part of the 2023 State of the Energy Union Report, the document assesses the competitiveness of various aspects of the clean energy sector and strategic net-zero technologies, including solar, wind, ocean energy, batteries, and heat pumps.
The report underscores that clean energy technologies in the EU remain cost-competitive, despite rising energy and material costs in 2022. However, the EU is facing growing competition from non-European producers, leading to a significant dependence on imports for critical components. To address this issue, the European Commission has initiated various measures, including the Green Deal Industrial Plan and the Net-Zero Industry Act, to reduce import dependence and bolster domestic manufacturing.
The report also highlights the importance of improving skills, creating quality jobs, and translating research into industrial production to sustain growth in the clean energy sector. Skills gaps and shortages are identified as potential barriers to growth, and bridging the gap between research and market adoption is emphasized through EU and national programs with clear research and innovation targets for 2030 and 2050.
