EuropeOn and the Electrification Alliance meet Commissioner Hoekstra’s Cabinet

On 14 January, EuropeOn’s General Secretary joined colleagues from the Electrification Alliance for a meeting with Miguel Garcia Jones, member of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra’s cabinet for Climate, Net Zero, and Clean Growth. The discussion centred around the Clean Industrial Deal (coming out on the 26th February) and how electrification can drive a competitive and decarbonised industrial sector in Europe.

Interestingly, the Clean Industrial Deal is expected to not only address energy-intensive industries, but also to tackle the enablers for clean tech deployment. This is a step in the right direction for the members of the Electrification Alliance, as the clean tech we collectively manufacture, install and operate represent critical industries for Europe’s competitiveness. As emphasised by Mario Draghi when presenting his report on competitiveness in front of the European Parliament last fall, “the EU is a world leader in clean technologies like wind turbines, electrolysers and low-carbon fuels. We are also strong in green innovation. More than one fifth of clean and sustainable technologies worldwide are developed here.”

The Alliance presented actionable recommendations to the Commission. These included:

  • Establishing national smart electrification indicators to measure and track progress across Member States;
  • Providing adequate financial support for the deployment of electric equipment, electric heating, and cooling technologies, so as to boost demand and make the energy transition affordable for all;
  • Reforming the Energy Taxation Directive so as to shift national taxes away from electricity;
  • Ensuring timely grid access for electrified industrial processes as they require complete reliability;
  • Address barriers to unlocking flexibility in the industry in order to consume electricity smartly and at the best price;
  • Promoting workforce development: Ensuring that we have enough electrical professionals with sufficient skills to meet growing electrification demands.

The meeting with Commissioner’s Hoekstra’s cabinet reinforced the importance of collaboration between industry stakeholders and policymakers to overcome obstacles and seize opportunities for electrification. EuropeOn remains committed to ensuring that electrification is at the heart of the Clean Industrial Deal, fostering a sustainable and prosperous future.

Have a look at the Electrification Alliance’s recommendations, on the Electrification Action Plan and the Clean Industrial Deal.