Summary
- A joint roadmap for Europe’s decarbonisation and competitiveness is proposed by an alliance of cleantech businesses and civil society
- Key recommendations for the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) were sent to the Commission, aiming to provide incentives for EU industries to adopt cleantech
- Challenges include limited growth opportunities and mixed demand signals for innovative, decarbonised products
- Concrete recommendations across three pillars focus on access to clean energy, European industrial strategy, and a Clean Investment Plan
- Priority areas include financial support for scaling up strategic technologies and establishing lead markets through green public procurement to attract private investment
Article
An alliance of cleantech businesses and civil society has proposed 15 measures to deliver a joint roadmap for Europe’s decarbonization and competitiveness under the Clean Industrial Deal. The Clean Industrial Deal aims to provide incentives for EU-based industries to adopt cleantech, transitioning towards decarbonized, circular, and innovative business models. Despite hosting innovators in sectors like green steel, battery manufacturing, and EV charging, there are limited opportunities for growth and scaling due to mixed demand signals and a fragmented European market.
The key recommendations sent by T&E and 15 other organizations to the Commission for the Clean Industrial Deal focus on three pillars. The first pillar involves increasing access to clean and affordable domestic energy, which is crucial for building a competitive industrial base. The second pillar highlights the need for a European industrial strategy that promotes decarbonization and competitiveness, with a sector-specific approach for key industries. Lastly, a Clean Investment Plan is proposed to unlock private investment through financial incentives and de-risking mechanisms, supporting the transition towards cleaner technologies.
One of the key priorities for T&E is to establish targeted financial support for scaling up strategic technologies within the EU. This includes implementing stringent “Made-in-EU” and sustainability requirements to State Aid and EU funding, particularly under the future European Competitiveness Fund. Additionally, creating lead markets through green public procurement and deploying smart de-risking and competitive bidding approaches are essential to attract private investment through programs like InvestEU and the Innovation Fund. These measures aim to drive decarbonization and innovation in key sectors like batteries and clean fuels for aviation and shipping.
The Clean Industrial Deal is expected to address the EU’s investment challenge by driving decarbonization and innovation within the industrial sector. The future European Competitiveness Fund is highlighted as the financial backbone of a green industrial strategy, aiming to scale up domestic clean tech manufacturing in key sectors. Beyond the next EU budget, substantial new funding is necessary to close the investment gap through 2030, securing the transition towards cleaner technologies and establishing Europe as a leader in the global cleantech race.
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