Why competitive industry needs cheap power and smart policy

Europe has already lost around half of its primary aluminium production in recent years, driven by soaring energy costs and intense international competition and yet the ambition to decarbonise industry has never been greater.

To unpack the realities facing European industry, as well as the policies that are advancing or preventing deindustrialisation, Pamela Largue speaks with Paul Voss, Director General of European Aluminium. Voss explores why competitively priced electricity is fundamental to Europe's industrial future, why long-term investment in renewables, grids and storage matters more than short-term fixes, and how geopolitical events have reshaped Europe's thinking on trade, resilience and strategic autonomy.

While the industry's commitment to net zero is unwavering, Voss argues that policy must be grounded in technological reality.

In this episode of the Energy Transitions podcast, you will learn more about: 

• Why competitive energy prices are essential for energy-intensive industries and why this remains Europe's biggest competitiveness challenge;
• The reasons why some sectors can’t decarbonise as quickly as policy timelines suggest, despite strong industry commitment;
• How Europe can avoid deindustrialisation with climate and industrial policies that keep manufacturing in Europe;
• How trade tensions, sanctions, supply chains and global competition are reshaping Europe's approach to industrial resilience and strategic autonomy;
• Why solutions like rooftop solar or flexibility options are far more complex than they appear when applied to heavy industry.

LISTEN NOW

Listen to previous episodes:
Optimising energy storage assets for a more flexible grid
Why energy storage is a strategic priority for Europe

More about industrial competitiveness:
Electrification and ETS plans: twin approaches for industry
Industrial electrification: Europe's competitiveness key