Professor Jan Rosenow of the Environmental Change Institute has emphasized the importance of strategic industrial electrification and energy efficiency as central elements for Europe's future industrial and energy policy. Speaking to ministers, Professor Rosenow contrasted Europe’s dependence on volatile fossil fuel imports—highlighted during the 2022 gas crisis—with China’s emergence as a leading "electro-state." He argued that Europe must act quickly and at scale to remain competitive globally.
“Many of the solutions are there; what truly matters for competitiveness is not only the input price, but the cost of the final product. Electrification drastically cuts the energy needed for each unit produced,” Professor Rosenow told ministers.
He pointed to mature technologies such as industrial heat pumps, noting their higher efficiency leads to lower unit costs and improved global standing for European manufacturers. Drawing from his academic research, he identified four main barriers to broader adoption: long equipment replacement cycles, electricity price structures that disadvantage clean power due to legacy taxes and levies, grid constraints requiring faster upgrades and smarter connections, and a growing skills gap in industry.
Professor Rosenow proposed several immediate policy actions: scaling up EU industrial electrification auctions to stimulate investment, reforming energy taxation to create parity between electricity and fossil fuels, and accelerating grid connections through innovative planning, financing, and delivery methods.
He concluded: “By putting the right policy framework in place, we will not just decarbonise our industry; we will build a 21st‑century industrial powerhouse that is modern, competitive, and secure.”
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