Are the EU’s energy sources reliable? These are the solutions that might save our future

The European Union is undergoing an energetic transformation, and countries struggle to keep up. The block must seek sustainable solutions against global warming, but countries remain hesitant to wean off traditional energy sources, and favour risky renewable options.

The conundrum worsened with the rise of geopolitical tensions: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced Europe to face its own dependency, highlighting the need for energetic sovereignty and independent, local energy sources.

Today, key countries find themselves at a crossroads; although these remain the dominant sources in Europe, we must be aware of their shortcomings, and the new, emerging options that will potentially solve the dilemma of the EU’s future.

Germany

Germany’s primary energy source is renewables, particularly wind and solar power, followed by natural gas and coal. The country has been a pioneer in renewable energy with the Energiewende, aiming to phase out nuclear power and reduce fossil fuel dependence. Wind power is Germany’s leading renewable source, followed by solar and biomass.

But the dominance of renewables brings challenges, particularly with grid stability. Wind and solar energy are intermittent and depend on weather conditions, which can lead to fluctuations in supply. To counter this, Germany has increased its reliance on natural gas as a backup source.

And unfortunately, natural gas dependency has become a significant issue, particularly due to geopolitical concerns. With a large proportion of gas imports coming from Russia, the war in Ukraine and associated sanctions have highlighted the vulnerability of Germany’s energy supply. Additionally, phasing out coal by 2038 poses challenges for energy security.

France

France relies heavily on nuclear power, which provides about 70% of its electricity. This dominance has enabled France to have one of the lowest carbon footprints in Europe per capita, thanks to the low emissions from nuclear generation.

However, nuclear energy is facing challenges, such as aging reactors and the high cost of maintenance and upgrades. Some reactors have faced prolonged shutdowns due to maintenance or safety issues, raising concerns about reliability. Moreover, nuclear waste disposal remains a contentious issue.

France also faces challenges in diversifying its energy mix, particularly increasing renewables. While hydropower has long been established, other sources like wind and solar have been slower to develop, partly due to regulatory and public acceptance barriers.

Italy

Natural gas is Italy’s primary energy source, accounting for over 40% of the country’s electricity generation. Italy imports most of its gas, with supplies coming from Russia, Algeria, and Libya. This dependency poses energy security risks.

The heavy reliance on natural gas has significant implications for greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. Although less polluting than coal, gas combustion still emits CO₂, hindering Italy’s efforts to reduce emissions. Additionally, global gas price volatility impacts Italian consumers and industries.

Meanwhile, renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, have grown substantially. However, integrating these intermittent sources into the grid has proven challenging. Italy’s geography is advantageous for solar power, but the growth of wind energy has faced resistance due to aesthetic and environmental concerns.

Spain

Spain’s energy mix is dominated by natural gas and renewables, particularly wind power. Wind farms are a significant contributor, making Spain one of Europe’s leading wind energy producers. Solar power is also rapidly expanding, especially in the sunny southern regions.

Yet despite the strong renewable presence, natural gas remains crucial due to its role in balancing the grid. Spain imports most of its gas, primarily from Algeria and other international markets. Dependence on imports makes Spain vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and price fluctuations.

Spain’s energy transition has and is facing hurdles, including inconsistent renewable energy policies and investment uncertainty. There are also concerns over grid integration, as renewables require improved transmission infrastructure and energy storage solutions.

Poland

Poland relies heavily on coal as its main energy source, providing around 70% of its electricity. The country has substantial domestic coal reserves, and the industry has long been a cornerstone of the economy, especially in the Silesian region.

However, coal dependency poses significant environmental and health issues. Poland has some of the worst air quality in Europe due to coal combustion, resulting in health problems and premature deaths. Additionally, EU climate targets pressure Poland to reduce its carbon emissions, leading to tensions over the future of the coal industry.

Efforts to diversify the energy mix include increasing the share of natural gas and renewables. Wind energy is growing, but its expansion faces regulatory challenges and local opposition. Poland is also planning to introduce nuclear power to reduce emissions and dependence on coal.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands has historically relied on natural gas, largely due to the giant Groningen gas field. However, declining production and environmental concerns have led to the decision to phase out Groningen production by 2028.

The reduction of domestic gas production has increased the Netherlands’ reliance on imports, mainly from Norway and Russia. This shift raises concerns about energy security and price volatility. The Groningen field’s closure is also linked to frequent earthquakes due to ground subsidence, causing significant public opposition.

To compensate, the Netherlands has expanded its renewable energy capacity, particularly offshore wind farms. However, the transition from natural gas to renewables presents challenges, including managing grid stability and reducing emissions in sectors like heating and transportation.

Belgium

Nuclear power dominates Belgium’s energy landscape, supplying nearly 50% of its electricity. The country operates seven reactors, which have been a reliable and low-carbon energy source.

However, Belgium faces challenges with its aging nuclear fleet. Several reactors have experienced extended outages due to maintenance or safety concerns. Public opposition to nuclear power and concerns over radioactive waste have also led to plans for a nuclear phase-out by 2025.

To replace nuclear power, Belgium has focused on increasing natural gas and renewable energy. This transition raises concerns over energy security and emissions, particularly due to the reliance on imported gas. Offshore wind energy has been expanding, but integrating renewables into the grid remains challenging.

Three solutions for the future

The clear conclusion is that energy sources are fragile: countries are either mid-transition in an era of geopolitical unrest, or relying on problematic sources of power that will soon stop being of use.

But complicated situations encourage research and innovation and, at the moment, three emerging energy sources are positioning themselves as potential solutions for Europe’s energetic future.

There is, for example, green hydrogen. Produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, green hydrogen emits zero carbon dioxide during production and provides a versatile energy carrier. One of the primary is its ability to store excess renewable energy, effectively addressing the intermittency of wind and solar power. When renewable generation exceeds demand, the surplus electricity can be used to produce hydrogen, which can then be stored for later use or transport. This flexibility helps stabilise the grid and supports energy security.

Furthermore, green hydrogen holds the potential to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries such as steel, chemicals, and refining, which are some of the most challenging sectors to transition away from fossil fuels. By replacing carbon-intensive fuels in these industries, significant reductions in emissions can be achieved.

In the transport sector, hydrogen fuel cells offer a clean alternative for heavy transport, including trucks, buses, and trains, where batteries may not be practical due to weight or range constraints. Several European countries are already investing in hydrogen refuelling infrastructure to support this transition. Moreover, green hydrogen contributes to Europe’s geopolitical independence by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. Producing hydrogen domestically using Europe’s abundant renewable resources enhances energy sovereignty and decreases the region’s vulnerability to external supply disruptions.

Another promising source is floating offshore wind technology, which is revolutionising access to deep-sea wind resources that were previously inaccessible with traditional fixed-bottom turbines. This emerging technology uses floating platforms anchored to the seabed, allowing turbines to operate in deeper waters and harness stronger and more consistent winds.

Europe has significant offshore wind resources in deep waters, particularly in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Floating wind technology allows tapping into these resources, providing more consistent wind speeds and higher capacity factors. Offshore wind farms can also be strategically located near high-demand regions, reducing the need for extensive transmission infrastructure. Pairing floating offshore wind farms with offshore hydrogen production provides another advantage by enabling energy to be stored and transported more efficiently. This combination could lead to a new era of integrated offshore renewable energy systems.

Environmentally, floating wind farms reduce seabed disturbance compared to fixed-bottom installations and offer opportunities for co-locating aquaculture or marine conservation zones. Furthermore, Europe’s leadership in offshore wind innovation, with several demonstration projects and planned commercial-scale deployments, can create thousands of skilled jobs and cement the continent’s technological leadership in this field.

Finally, we have what are called Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), which exploit the Earth’s natural heat by stimulating geothermal reservoirs to improve permeability and create artificial geothermal wells. Unlike traditional geothermal energy, which requires naturally occurring hydrothermal resources, EGS can be implemented in a broader range of geological conditions.

Geothermal power provides base-load renewable energy that can supplement intermittent renewables like wind and solar, ensuring grid stability. Europe has diverse geological conditions suitable for EGS, from sedimentary basins in France and Germany to volcanic regions in Italy and Iceland. This broad applicability allows many European countries to tap into geothermal potential.

On top of electricity generation, EGS can provide heat directly for district heating networks, significantly reducing fossil fuel consumption in urban areas. This approach aligns with Europe’s goal of decarbonising heating systems. And although some EGS projects might initially use small amounts of fossil energy for stimulation, the overall carbon footprint remains significantly lower than that of conventional power generation. The technology’s ability to provide continuous, low-carbon energy makes it a promising emerging option for Europe’s energy transition.