Solid-state transformers can transform Europe’s power grids into intelligent systems able to manage higher voltages, integrate renewables and reduce the risk of large-scale blackouts. By bringing flexibility and control to the grid, they could make the energy transition work in real life, not just on paper. But experts warn that technology and investment in research are crucial — “with this kind of innovation, we are building a better world”.

Behind the scenes of Europe’s energy transition, researchers are reinventing how hydrogen can be stored and moved. Their compact ceramic reactor cracks ammonia, separates and compresses hydrogen in one go. A breakthrough that could make global transport cleaner, faster, and far more efficient in the race to net zero 

Abundantly exposed to the wind and sun, Europe’s islands long neglected their clean natural resources and depended on costly fossil fuels. From the Canaries to Crete, today many are flipping the script — building citizen-led, renewable energy systems. As they test new models and technologies, could these “living labs” point the way for Europe’s mainland? 

Hydrogen is quietly revolutionising heavy urban mobility and energy storage across the continent. It presents a crucial path to decarbonization, highlights Luigi Crema, President of Hydrogen Europe Research. Yet, he calls for immediate action to secure this future: “We now have the technological leadership. Let’s defend it and not repeat the mistake of the battery market, which is already lost to China”.

In Visby, a medieval UNESCO town in Sweden, cutting-edge tech meets tradition to keep heritage buildings alive, sustainable, and future-ready.

After a 5-year journey, the European energy initiative TIGON has delivered real-world validation of high-voltage, hybrid microgrids that can slash energy losses, improve resilience, and accelerate the shift to decentralised power. What began as a technical experiment may now shape a new era of smarter, self-sustaining energy systems across Europe.

In the global push for cleaner energy, reducing development time is key to lowering costs, improving efficiency, and staying competitive. Nowhere is this clearer than in the battery sector — where digital tools, AI, and smart testing are redefining how we innovate. Europe must act fast to secure its place in this high-stakes race

Kites are no longer just toys, but pioneering tools to exploit the untapped potential of wind energy. Lightweight, mobile, and ideal for remote or off-grid areas, they require up to 90% less material than traditional turbines. But operators warn: “Industry must work hand in hand with funding agencies to make this technology viable”

Renewables are booming, but without modernising grids, clean power risks going nowhere. Solid-State Transformers help networks handle fast, decentralised electricity flows. Without them, experts warn, the energy transition is like a sleek electric car—with no roads to drive on.

Across Europe's lakes and reservoirs, a new generation of solar panels is rising — floating, intelligent and ready to reshape the energy landscape. But to scale up, key challenges still need to be addressed.

In the high-energy world of fertiliser production, a pioneering plant in Teruel, Aragon is showing how cleaner technologies can reshape a carbon-heavy industry. Set in a once-thriving coal town now emblematic of rural decline, the site is becoming a local engine of innovation and inclusion.

Energy communities promise to transform Europe’s energy system, but regulatory hurdles, interoperability issues and limited tools still stand in the way. How to help scale their impact and drive a democratic, renewable-powered future? The answers and legacy of the European project eNeuron

The pharmaceutical sector, one of Europe’s most energy-intensive industries, is under increasing pressure due to rising energy costs and the need for decarbonisation. A pilot project in the Italian Alps now promises innovative solutions to cut the industry’s environmental footprint by integrating renewable energy and advanced technologies.

Struggling to keep pace with the growing share of renewables, the grid is turning into a bottleneck in the energy transition. From DC integration to hybrid microgrids, how emerging technologies are tackling the infrastructure challenge

Pope Francis called them “new expressions of integral citizenship and democracy,” and experts agree on their social, environmental, and economic value. Yet, from integration into the power system to market reliability, energy communities still face significant challenges. “Let’s take urgent action, or we will miss out on their potential,” warn operators.

When a sense of ownership rhymes with ethical practices and economic inclusion. Energy communities might succeed where politics failed: rebuilding trust and engagement in civil society through new forms of commitment and direct democracy 

Unprecedented gas and electricity bills have led to fuel protests in several countries. Yet, with energy poverty affecting over 50 million Europeans, a study highlights: “Energy communities can provide sustainable and affordable services.”

Some countries are backsliding on climate commitments to be coal-power free, afraid of the impact on jobs and energy costs. How can nations such as Bulgaria overcome the social and economic challenges in coal-reliant regions?

The EU sees them as “vital actors” in the clean energy transition. In Europe, there are some 4,000 local energy communities, but many challenges are still ahead. A comprehensive toolbox now provides an all-in-one solution to create, operate and develop them.