This is lesson nine of the second module of EUPress Teacher Training, which covers the macro topic of ‘Energy, Climate Change, and Environment.’
The lesson analyzes REPowerEU, the European Commission’s plan to make Europe independent from
Russian fossil fuels before 2030, in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has launched one of its most ambitious energy initiatives ever: REPowerEU — a roadmap to phase out Russian fossil fuels before 2030, accelerate the clean energy transition, and strengthen Europe’s energy independence.
Energy as geopolitics
The war in Ukraine exposed Europe’s deep dependence on Russian gas, oil, and coal. In 2021, the EU imported around 40% of its gas and 25% of its oil from Russia — a vulnerability quickly turned into political leverage.
According to the European Commission, 85% of EU citizens support cutting this dependency “as soon as possible” to both support Ukraine and protect Europe’s strategic autonomy.
REPowerEU responds with a threefold strategy: diversify energy supplies, save energy, and accelerate renewables.
Diversifying energy sources
In the short term, the EU is working with international partners — including Norway, the United States, and Qatar — to secure alternative gas and oil supplies. This includes higher imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), expanded storage capacity, and cross-border pipeline upgrades.
In the medium to long term, diversification means investing in renewable hydrogen as a clean substitute for fossil fuels, particularly for heavy industry and transport.
Accelerating clean energy
Renewables are central to the plan. The Commission calls them “the cheapest, cleanest, and most secure energy available,” with the potential to be produced domestically in every member state.
The EU Solar Strategy, part of REPowerEU, aims to more than double photovoltaic capacity by 2025 — reaching 320 gigawatts, and almost 600 gigawatts by 2030. This alone could replace 9 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually by 2027.
Meanwhile, the industrial transition will be driven by electrification, efficiency, and renewable uptake. By 2030, these measures could save 35 billion cubic metres of gas. Sectors such as cement, glass, chemicals, and steel — among the heaviest emitters — are expected to play a central role.
Notably, around 30% of Europe’s primary steel production is projected to be decarbonised through renewable hydrogen by 2030.
Saving energy — and money
Energy efficiency and behavioural change are the third pillar of the strategy. “Saving energy,” the Commission stresses, “is the cheapest, safest, and cleanest way to reduce fossil fuel dependence.”
Households are encouraged to take small but cumulative actions: lowering heating temperatures, limiting air conditioning, using appliances more efficiently, driving economically, opting for public transport, and switching off unused lights.
A crisis-driven turning point
REPowerEU is more than a short-term crisis plan — it represents a structural shift in Europe’s energy model. By combining energy independence with climate neutrality, the EU hopes to turn a geopolitical shock into a long-term transformation.
The challenge now lies in execution: aligning national investment plans, scaling up renewable infrastructure, and ensuring that energy security and sustainability move forward — together.
