European Commission adopts its emergency toolbox ‘AccelerateEU’

Today, the European Commission unveiled its emergency toolbox ‘AccelerateEU’, in the context of the Iran crisis and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, to address price spikes and the EU’s structural fossil fuels dependence. This Communication aims at providing accelerated action to ensure affordable and secure energy for the EU’s citizens and businesses. 

SolarPower Europe has issued the following statement in reaction.

Dries Acke, Deputy CEO of SolarPower Europe (he/him) said:  “Renewable‑based electrification is the most effective way for Europe to cut its fossil fuel import dependence, and AccelerateEU rightly puts it at the centre of the EU’s crisis response. The Commission’s decision to set a single EU‑wide electrification target provides a clear direction for reducing fossil fuel exposure. By pledging more support for electrification through the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank and asking Member States to lower electricity taxation, the Commission points at the right tools to turn this strategy into reality.
 

Recognising the need to scale EU storage capacity to 200 GW by 2030, too, sends an important signal, and it is positive to see the Commission acknowledge the key role of batteries in delivering this growth. Battery energy storage will be the main driver of this scale‑up, enabling an electricity system that is both secure and competitive.
 

The Commission, however, fails to propose concrete measures to get to these levels of battery storage and other non-fossil flexibility. Non‑fossil flexibility is essential for structurally reducing the impact of international gas prices on European electricity prices. We call for a market‑based ‘Non‑Fossil Flexibility investment booster’ to secure electricity supply and lower wholesale electricity prices.

AccelerateEU set the direction under crisis conditions. Delivering on the energy transition now means pairing ambition with financing tools that make it future-proof.”

Notes 
 

• AccelerateEU is a Commission Communication setting out accelerated actions to ensure affordable and secure energy.
   
• This Communication was adopted in response to the  European Council conclusions of 19 March, in the context of the Iran crisis and disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, with the aim of addressing energy price spikes and the EU’s structural dependence on fossil fuels.
   
• SolarPower Europe recently published a research showing that the EU’s existing solar fleet is offsetting more than €110 million of gas imports per day since the beginning of the 2026 Middle Conflict. To date, the total number of savings reached €6.3 billion in avoided gas imports. 
   
• Urgent action, particularly on battery storage and other non-fossil flexibility, is required to offset more natural gas usage and reduce its impact on electricity prices. 
   
• In 2025, SolarPower Europe launched the Battery Storage Europe Platform (BSEP), urging for a tenfold increase in battery storage by 2030 to ensure Europe’s energy transition, security and competitiveness. Follow the BSEP LinkedIn page for updates.

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