The European Commission has adopted an Electrification Action Plan and a review of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) to position Europe as the world’s first electro-powered continent. This initiative addresses vulnerabilities linked to imported fossil fuels, aiming to bolster the clean transition, support industry, and enhance energy independence.
While roughly 70% of EU electricity currently stems from homegrown clean sources, the electrification demand rate has stagnated at 23% over the past decade. To bridge this gap, the Commission introduces an indicative electrification target of 46% by 2040, alongside measures to future-proof electricity bills, expand smart meters, and accelerate deployment across heating, transport, and industry.
The revised ETS framework integrates an industrial decarbonisation fund backed by €100bn, alongside mandatory reinvestment of 50% of national ETS revenues into sector decarbonisation. Furthermore, the strategy maintains targeted free allocations tied to climate investments and extends market rules to maritime, aviation, and waste incineration to secure a level playing field.
Plans for the port sector
To advance maritime transport and fisheries, the plan prioritises deploying high-power charging infrastructure and onshore power supply across ports of all sizes, integrating them into grid planning, electricity demand forecasting, energy storage, and local energy systems to transform them into clean energy hubs. The policy framework for ports puts a particular focus on the role of onshore power supply and the potential of ports to become energy hubs, drawing on the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation, FuelEU Maritime, and the March 2026 EU Port Strategy.
Furthermore, the framework emphasises transparent and non-discriminatory pricing of onshore power supply services, including tariff structures and cost components, while designating ports as industrial acceleration areas under the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act. The Commission invites relevant stakeholders, including within the European Sustainable Shipping Forum, to develop best practices on transparent and non-discriminatory pricing, and states readiness to take further measures to enhance price transparency and comparability across the EU if needed.