AccelerateEU is the Commission's toolbox to bring immediate relief to European households and industries, especially the most vulnerable ones, while putting Europe on a steady pathway to energy independence. Since the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, the EU has spent an additional €24bn on energy imports due to higher prices – without receiving any extra energy.
Category: Energy
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UK Government to reduce impact of gas prices on electricity costs
The UK Government is setting out new measures to reduce the impact that volatile gas prices have on the price of electricity. These measures will further reduce the share of electricity exposed to gas price shocks and provide generators the economic incentive to move on to fixed contracts not linked to volatile gas. This will be done by two means.
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Eurostat identifies significant increase in fuel prices in March 2026
UUntil February 2026, the price of fuels and lubricants for personal transport in the EU was generally decreasing, for the EU average and for most of EU countries. However, it increased significantly in March 2026, according to Eurostat. In March 2026, the price of fuels and lubricants in the EU increased by 12.9% compared with March 2025.
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MDBs work together to help build critical minerals to manufacturing value chains
The Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have issued a statement recognising the importance of working together to help build diversified, resilient and responsible critical minerals to manufacturing value chains, in order to scale up support for clean, affordable and reliable energy access, as well as the digital and economic transformation of their client countries.
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First hydrogen transmission network operator on path to independence
The European Commission has issued a positive opinion in the process of certifying GAZ-SYSTEM as a hydrogen transmission network operator. The company is the first in Europe to undergo the certification procedure in this area, securing confirmation of compliance with EU regulations. This is the next big step in building a new energy market and confirms the company’s role in the energy transition taking place in the region.
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The EU has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% since 1990
The European Union's greenhouse gas emissions fell a further 3% between 2023 and 2024, bringing the EU’s total emission reductions to 40% below 1990 levels, according to official EU data sent to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis. The EU greenhouse gas inventory was prepared and submitted to the UN body by the EEA on behalf of the EU on 15 April.
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Flight cancellations in Europe due to dearth of jet fuel
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued a statement saying that the International Energy Agency's assessment of potential jet fuel shortages is sobering. "We have also estimated that by the end of May we could start to see some cancellations in Europe for lack of jet fuel. This is already happening in parts of Asia. Along with doing everything possible to secure alternative supply lines, it’s important that authorities have well-communicated and well-coordinated plans in place in case rationing becomes necessary, including for slot relief,” said Willie Walsh, IATA's Director General.
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Oil demand set to decline the sharpest since Covid cuts
Oil demand is expected to contract by 80 kb/d this year, as the Iran war upends the International Energy Agency's (IEA's) global outlook. This is 730 kb/d less than in last month’s report and a forecast 1.5 mb/d 2Q26 decline would be the sharpest since Covid-19 slashed fuel consumption. Initially, the deepest cuts in oil use have come in the Middle East and Asia Pacific, mainly for naphtha, LPG and jet fuel. However, demand destruction will spread as scarcity and higher prices persist.
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New approaches needed to address supply chain risks for rare earth elements
Rare earth elements are moving rapidly to the forefront of global policy making for energy, transport, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies as demand continues to expand while supply chains remain highly concentrated, according to a new International Energy |Agency (IEA) report developed to inform G7 discussions this year.
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EIC awards €118m to 30 breakthrough research projects
The European Innovation Council (EIC) has selected 30 new projects under the 2025 EIC Pathfinder Challenges Call for cutting edge research projects delivering breakthroughs in four strategic areas: biotech for climate resilient crops and plant-based biomanufacturing; generative-AI based agents to revolutionise medical diagnosis; robot collectives; and waste-to-value devices - circular production of renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials.
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Verification of Sustainable Aviation Fuel traceability strengthened
Zemo Partnership has launched RFAS Aviation, a new voluntary assurance scheme designed to provide independent verification of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) across the UK supply chain. The scheme responds to a critical industry need for a harmonised approach to verifying SAF traceability in the downstream fuel supply chain.
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New framework links past and future emissions to location-specific damage
One tonne of CO2 emitted in 1990 caused US$180 in discounted global damages by 2020 ($40–530) and will cause an additional $1,840 through 2100 ($500–5,700). Settling debts for past damages will not settle debts for past emissions. The research, Quantifying climate loss and damage consistent with a social cost of carbon, was published in Nature and was carried out by Burke, M., Zahid, M., Diffenbaugh, N.S. et al
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Hormuz shipping disruptions raise risks for energy, fertilizers and economies
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released a rapid analysis – Strait of Hormuz disruptions: Implications for global trade and development – examining the implications of recent disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical trade corridors.
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Commission to increase EU’s energy independence and affordability
The European Commission has presented its first initiatives to boost investment in homegrown clean energy solutions, increase resilience and reduce energy prices. The prevailing geopolitical context acts as a reminder of the risks related to Europe's reliance on imported fossil fuels. The Commission says that clean energy sources remain the most affordable and safe, and the only mid-term response to reduce our exposure to price volatility.
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Sodium ion battery stores twice the energy and desalinates seawater
Researchers at the University of Surrey in the UK have discovered that keeping water inside a key battery material dramatically boosts performance. The batteries then store nearly twice as much charge, charge faster and remain stable for hundreds of cycles. This makes them among the top-performing sodium batteries ever.