A new study, funded under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2021-2022, aims to increase the alignment of emerging clean energy technologies with the European Union’s goals.
The study addresses future clean energy technology sustainability, circularity and contribution to EU resilience and technological autonomy. The study is also aligned with the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, the Critical Raw Materials Act, and the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
The European Commission says the study provides an extensive overview of the available assessment methods, presents the findings of relevant stakeholders consultations and proposes a set of actionable approaches validated and refined in collaboration with ongoing Horizon Europe projects at different technology readiness levels.
It contains five sector-specific guidelines for application, covering carbon capture, utilisation and storage, energy infrastructure, energy storage, renewable and low carbon fuels, and renewable energy technologies.
Horizon Work Europe Programme is a multi-annual document outlining the specific funding opportunities, research topics, and budgetary allocations for the EU research and innovation framework.
The 2026-2027 work program focuses on climate neutrality, artificial intelligence, and industrial competitiveness.
This news comes after the European Commission launched a four-week call for evidence on certain aspects of EU rules on the energy-efficiency of a wide range of products. The commission is seeking stakeholder views on how compliance with the energy and tyre labelling framework can be made simpler and more effective.
Input from manufacturers, retailers, market surveillance authorities and consumers will feed into the commission’s preparation of proposals to simplify legislations, which is due for publication later this year.
The call for evidence runs until 12 March 2026.
As of 2026, the European energy market is characterised by the transition to renewable energy, with wind and solar anticipated to surpass fossil fuels in electricity generation.
According to the European Commission, renewable energy represented 25.2% of energy consumed in the EU as of 2024 – up from 24.6% in 2023.
Sweden has the highest share of renewable energy among EU countries, with 62.8% of its gross final energy consumption coming from renewables in 2024. Sweden primarily relied on solid biomass, hydro and wind.
Finland ranked second (52.1%), relying primarily on solid biomass, wind and hydro, followed by Denmark (46.8%) with most of its renewable energy sourced from solid biomass, wind and biogas.
Solid biomass is an organic, non-fossil material of biological origin – including wood, agricultural residues and organic waste. These materials are used directly as fuel or converted into processed fuels for heat and electricity generation.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: European Commission
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