Crisis did not accelerate the EU's move towards fossil freedom

On the other hand, the EU did not accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, according to a new study from the Mistra Electrification research program.

“The crisis led to neither a faster nor a slower transition,” said Anastasia Pavlenko, a researcher at the Central European University in Austria, in a press release.

Coal use returned to its long-term downward trend after 2022, gas use peaked and then decreased, while oil use remained at approximately the same level.

Solar power continued to grow rapidly, but onshore wind power did not grow. Offshore wind power was given more ambitious targets, but they are unlikely to be met.