Europe’s electricity industry backs call for competitive regional decarbonised industry

European electricity industry trade association Eurelectric has signed the Antwerp Declaration calling for an ‘Industrial Deal’ as a complement to the ‘Green Deal’.

With its signing, Eurelectric becomes one of the currently 989 signatories to the Declaration, which is calling on member states and the next European Commission and parliament for a strong, competitive, decarbonised industrial base in Europe.

With electricity prices a key factor in industrial competitiveness, Eurelectric’s support for the Declaration opens the way for cross-sectoral cooperation to identify key policy measures and levers to make Europe a competitive provider of electricity for its industry.

Kristian Ruby, Eurelectric’s Secretary General, points out that at the height of the energy crisis, Europe witnessed real demand destruction and closure of industrial plants for which it is not clear if they will reemerge.

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For example in 2022, energy-intensive industries such as chemical, aluminium, zinc and silicon manufacturers were taken offline at a rate of 35% to 45% as soaring energy costs made operations uncompetitive.

“We need to work with industry to build resilience and competitiveness. This is why Eurelectric decided to support the Antwerp Declaration and the call for an Industrial Deal to complement Europe’s green ambitions.”

With its signing, Eurelectric intends to begin a constructive outreach with energy-intensive industries to accelerate the electrification of industrial processes, contribute to European competitiveness and bring them on board with the EU’s climate ambition.

To deliver affordable energy it is considered crucial to prioritise the most mature, efficient and affordable technologies, such as those that directly electrify end-use sectors.

However, while set to play a central role, a framework for direct electrification is needed, adds Marco Mensink, Director General at the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), which is coordinating the Antwerp Declaration.

“The new Commission should therefore come up with a plan to facilitate affordable and clean electrification of industry, create the necessary grid infrastructure and de-risk necessary electricity and electrification investments.”

The Antwerp Declaration, which was launched in February 2024 with a set of concrete objects, points to the pressures on European industry from a US economy with support from the Inflation Reduction Act and overcapacity and increasing exports into the region from China, stating that without a targeted industrial policy, Europe risks becoming dependent even on basic goods and chemicals.

Europe cannot afford this to happen, it states.