EU Commission chief calls for doubling renewable electricity share by 2040

During her sixth State of the Union speech, Ursula von der Leyen appealed to the European Parliament to speed up funding for clean-energy projects, accelerate the linking of new capacity to the grid, and develop storage solutions. She set a target of doubling the share of renewable electricity in the EU by 2040, arguing that this will strengthen energy independence. Von der Leyen noted that 480 GW of renewable capacity remains unconnected, underscoring the urgency of a new electricity-network package.

She called for increased domestic production of renewable, nuclear, and biometane energy, while also emphasizing the importance of affordable, technologically neutral sources. The proposal aims to reshape Europe’s energy future toward a fully electric system.