Towards less gas and more renewables: the European direction for a more sustainable energy market
The EU is pushing for less gas and more renewables, with possible tax changes to encourage electrification and the energy transition.
The European Union is strengthening its proposals to accelerate the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable sources , aiming to make the energy system cleaner, more resilient, and less dependent on imports. According to new analyses and proposals, the transition is not just about the amount of energy produced from renewables, but also how energy is consumed and taxed in different sectors .
In this context, there is growing emphasis on the need to significantly increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix , while progressively reducing the use of natural gas in industrial activities, building heating, and electricity generation. For ExpoClima, this means focusing on technologies that foster electrification and energy efficiency, such as heat pumps, solar photovoltaics, storage systems, and intelligent consumption management.
Taxing electricity to encourage less gas? A debate in Europe.
At the same time, some European countries and institutions are discussing the idea of revising the energy tax structure, considering the possibility of taxing electricity differently from gas to incentivize more sustainable energy choices. The aim of these proposals is to align the tax burden with climate and efficiency objectives, making electricity produced from renewable sources more affordable and fossil gas less competitive.
This reflection is linked to the idea that fiscal instruments, charges, and tariff mechanisms can significantly influence the decisions of consumers and businesses. If electricity were taxed more favorably than gas, technologies such as electric heat pumps, storage systems, and PV systems could be more cost-effective, accelerating the electrification of consumption and the penetration of renewables. At the same time, a gas tax adjustment could discourage the use of fossil fuels in sectors that can be electrified.
Practical implications for families, businesses, and the HVAC supply chain
The dynamics described are not merely political concepts: they directly impact technological choices and investments in energy efficiency. For example:
- Households may see greater savings by choosing electric heat pumps and photovoltaic systems when electricity is more tax-effective.
- Companies could accelerate plant modernization and intelligent consumption management, reducing their exposure to gas prices.
- The HVAC supply chain will increasingly be called upon to offer integrated solutions that maximize efficiency, taking advantage of incentives, self-consumption models, and advanced energy management systems.
A path consistent with European climate objectives
The European proposals to boost renewables and rethink energy taxation are part of the broader framework of the EU's decarbonisation and energy resilience objectives.
Aligning incentives, market prices, tariffs and taxation with environmental policies can help:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions ;
- Accelerate the adoption of low-impact technologies ;
- Making energy consumption more efficient and less expensive in the long term;
- Creating a more competitive and sustainable energy market .
This means that the transition to integrated renewable energy, storage systems, energy efficiency, and consistent taxation is not simply an aspiration, but a concrete strategy for building a cleaner, safer, and more affordable energy future for citizens, businesses, and industry professionals.
Related Focus
FAQ
To reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, increase energy security, and contain CO₂ emissions. The goal is to accelerate the integration of solar, wind, heat pumps, smart grids, and storage, transforming the energy system into a more resilient, flexible, and sustainable market, capable of absorbing price shocks and supply disruptions.
Production variability, limited storage capacity, network congestion, connection times, and complex permits. For buildings and HVAC systems, this means considering supply-demand integration, intelligent load management, thermal and electrical storage, and advanced system control to avoid peak demand and maximize self-consumption of clean energy.
Designers and operators must consider buildings and systems as integrated systems: heat pumps, photovoltaics, storage, advanced regulation, and load management become key to reducing fossil fuel consumption and increasing efficiency. The choice of generators, refrigerants, regulation, and storage systems must be geared toward energy resilience, comfort, and operational continuity within an increasingly renewable-powered electricity grid.
