EU Electrification Action Plan: EU targets 46% electrification by 2040 in major energy shift
The European Commission’s new landmark Electrification Action Plan aims to double electricity’s share of final energy consumption from 23% to 46% by 2040. Designed to slash reliance on imported fossil fuels, the initiative could save the EU €260bn annually in import costs.
Impact on building services: Heat pumps and streamlined regulation
For building services engineers and installers, the plan signals massive operational shifts. A headline target seeks to double heat pump installations in buildings by 2030 compared to 2025 levels. To lower upfront technology costs and accelerate adoption, the EU will introduce a Clean Heat Market Mechanism alongside a proposed Construction Services Act, streamlining certifications for energy-efficient building installations.
Lowering Costs: Grid Reforms, Tax Cuts, and Smart Energy Use
Key regulatory measures aim to make power more competitive against natural gas by addressing high network charges and allowing member states to reduce electricity taxes. The plan also emphasises smarter energy use – promoting smart meters, grid flexibility and dynamic data exchange.
Bridging the skills gap: Training and qualification portability
To address critical installer shortages, the EU will boost investments in sector-specific skills and facilitate cross-border qualification portability for electricians.
Europe’s shift to an “electro-continent”
Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen summarised the strategy’s core directive by saying, “With this plan, we are putting Europe on a course to become the world’s first electro-continent. The message we are sending today is very clear: Choose electricity over fossil fuels. Choose green, home-grown, cheaper electrons over black, imported, expensive molecules. Choose independence over vulnerability. An accelerated clean energy transition coupled with electrification is the answer to Europe’s challenges in terms of security, competitiveness and decarbonisation.”