10 Key Initiatives Accelerating Europe’s Shift to Sustainable Energy
Europe is accelerating its transition to hybrid power plants, combining wind, solar, hydropower, and storage to cut energy costs and boost sustainability. A Polish project integrates 365 MW of solar, 264 MW of wind, and 168 MW of battery storage for green hydrogen production, mirroring similar initiatives in Spain, Bulgaria, and Denmark. Falling renewable costs, with solar 85% cheaper and battery storage 90% cheaper than 15 years ago, make these projects highly competitive. In Germany, hybrid systems offer electricity at 6.0–10.8 eurocents/kWh, far cheaper than fossil fuels and nuclear.
Chervonograd Professional Mining and Building College has expanded its Educational-Practical Center of Renewable Energy with new equipment under the GIZ-supported project "Fair Transformation of Coal Regions and Green Revival of Ukraine’s Energy Sector." Additions include a 5 kW wind station, two 0.6 kW stations, and laboratory stands for studying wind and hybrid systems. The upgrades complement previous deliveries of solar panels, hybrid power stations, and interactive learning tools.
Danish developer Eurowind Energy has completed construction of the 48 MW Pecineaga wind farm in Romania’s Constan?a county, set to be operational in 2025. The project features Romania’s largest Siemens Gamesa SG 6.6-170 turbines, optimized for low-wind conditions, and will generate 176,000 MWh annually, supplying 48,000 households. Eurowind invested €79 million and fully acquired WEP Technology Investment SRL from Nicolae Barsan’s Iros Brave 21 SRL.
Siemens Gamesa has secured certification for its SG DD-276 wind turbine, featuring a 276-meter rotor and a nominal capacity of 21.5 MW, as it seeks to compete with Chinese manufacturers developing record-breaking offshore turbines. The prototype, set for installation in ?sterild, Denmark, will use 135-meter blades and a nacelle weighing around 1,000 tons. This comes as Chinese firms, including Dongfang Electric and CRRC, unveil turbines up to 26 MW. Meanwhile, Siemens Gamesa’s 14 MW turbines with 236-meter rotors are slated for deployment in Poland’s Baltic Sea projects.
Ukraine’s renewable energy sector is playing a crucial role in strengthening European energy security amid geopolitical challenges. Despite war-related disruptions, private investments are driving rapid expansion, with over 1 GW of wind power under construction and major projects like DTEK’s Tiligulska Wind Farm and Elementum Energy’s Wind Park West set to boost capacity. Integration into the ENTSO-E network is improving market alignment, though regulatory and financial hurdles remain.
Bihor County Council and Hungarian local entities have launched a €25 million cross-border renewable energy project to power public buildings, including a future cultural center in Oradea. Announced at Oradea Science and Technology Park, the initiative involves geothermal energy and heat pump systems across 27 buildings in both countries. Led by Hungary’s Hajdu-Bihar County Council, the project runs from January 2025 to December 2027 under the Interreg VI-A Romania-Hungary Program.
Stockton’s px Group has secured an operations contract for the Tees Renewable Energy Plant, one of the world’s largest biomass facilities. The ￡650m plant, backed by Macquarie Bank and PKA, has faced delays and financial restructuring. px COO Dave Thompson called it “a landmark moment,” while MGT CEO Ian Coxon praised px’s expertise in green energy.
Romania is advancing renewable energy PPAs following the 2022 ban lift, aligning with the EU’s RED III directive targeting 42.5% renewables by 2030. Despite challenges like permitting delays and grid limitations, PPA activity is growing, with key offtakers in manufacturing and telecoms. Legislative updates and Romania’s expected Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB) membership aim to streamline GoO trading and boost market stability.
Uniper has begun construction on two solar parks in Hungary, totaling 151MW, to power up to 92,000 homes annually. The 61MW Dunaf?ldvár project will start in Q2 2025, with grid connection by 2026, while the 90MW Tét project will begin in Q3 2025 and operate from 2027. Expanding its European renewables portfolio, Uniper is also launching two UK solar projects in the Midlands, with a combined 65MW capacity, set to deliver power by 2026.
Oxfordshire councils have launched Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) to boost local renewable energy, cut reliance on fossil fuels, and improve energy efficiency. The initiative, led by the Future Oxfordshire Partnership, aims to support climate goals by optimizing solar and wind energy use, upgrading the grid, and enhancing community participation.