Ben McWilliams
@bmcwilliams.bsky.social
Affiliate Fellow, studying issues concerning all things (European) energy, climate and clean tech at the Bruegel think tank.
A helpful note on the Automotive package,
Technological neutrality is not the panacea some made it out to be. The regulation is only interested in driving CO2 limits down. Offsetting the emissions of a new ICE car sold in 2035 will inevitably be very expensive and only for the few.
Technological neutrality is not the panacea some made it out to be. The regulation is only interested in driving CO2 limits down. Offsetting the emissions of a new ICE car sold in 2035 will inevitably be very expensive and only for the few.
EU Automotive Package – The Porsche Amendment
"ICE models to become the haute couture Swiss watches of the motor industry "
A note:
www.schmidtmatthias.de/post/eu-auto...
"ICE models to become the haute couture Swiss watches of the motor industry "
A note:
www.schmidtmatthias.de/post/eu-auto...
EU Automotive Package – The Porsche Amendment
The winners of the European Commission’s Automotive Package presented at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
www.schmidtmatthias.de
December 18, 2025 at 1:27 PM
A helpful note on the Automotive package,
Technological neutrality is not the panacea some made it out to be. The regulation is only interested in driving CO2 limits down. Offsetting the emissions of a new ICE car sold in 2035 will inevitably be very expensive and only for the few.
Technological neutrality is not the panacea some made it out to be. The regulation is only interested in driving CO2 limits down. Offsetting the emissions of a new ICE car sold in 2035 will inevitably be very expensive and only for the few.
🗨️ “Direct commodity imports consistently emerge as the most cost-effective strategy for most countries.”
Another study points to the pressure for growth in green energy intermediate product trade. Energy-intensive processes move to sunny & windy places.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Another study points to the pressure for growth in green energy intermediate product trade. Energy-intensive processes move to sunny & windy places.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Optimising green value chains for the chemical industry in Europe
Transforming Europe's basic chemical industries for climate neutrality necessitates strategic decisions about sourcing green ammonia and methanol. Usi…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
🗨️ “Direct commodity imports consistently emerge as the most cost-effective strategy for most countries.”
Another study points to the pressure for growth in green energy intermediate product trade. Energy-intensive processes move to sunny & windy places.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Another study points to the pressure for growth in green energy intermediate product trade. Energy-intensive processes move to sunny & windy places.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🆕 The EU boasts a solid industrial base for the manufacturing of both batteries and EVs, with €38 billion into EVs and €34 billion into batteries invested since 2017.
We explore these investments in a new piece & argue that today's proposal to weaken 2035 CO2 limits is a policy blunder.
We explore these investments in a new piece & argue that today's proposal to weaken 2035 CO2 limits is a policy blunder.
December 16, 2025 at 3:41 PM
🆕 The EU boasts a solid industrial base for the manufacturing of both batteries and EVs, with €38 billion into EVs and €34 billion into batteries invested since 2017.
We explore these investments in a new piece & argue that today's proposal to weaken 2035 CO2 limits is a policy blunder.
We explore these investments in a new piece & argue that today's proposal to weaken 2035 CO2 limits is a policy blunder.
The European Commission proposes to take a more central role in planning new electricity grid infrastructure.
This can make a lot of sense but as my colleague @aroth.bsky.social points out transparency is crucial. Continuing to use a private & closed-source model leaves the EC open to criticism
This can make a lot of sense but as my colleague @aroth.bsky.social points out transparency is crucial. Continuing to use a private & closed-source model leaves the EC open to criticism
December 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The European Commission proposes to take a more central role in planning new electricity grid infrastructure.
This can make a lot of sense but as my colleague @aroth.bsky.social points out transparency is crucial. Continuing to use a private & closed-source model leaves the EC open to criticism
This can make a lot of sense but as my colleague @aroth.bsky.social points out transparency is crucial. Continuing to use a private & closed-source model leaves the EC open to criticism
We @bruegel.org track > 250 investments into European battery and EV manufacturing - a key finding is the importance of FDI:
🇨🇳 One-third of all ongoing investment now comes from China
🇰🇷 Korean companies own four-fifths of operational battery capacity
🇨🇳 One-third of all ongoing investment now comes from China
🇰🇷 Korean companies own four-fifths of operational battery capacity
December 10, 2025 at 8:51 AM
We @bruegel.org track > 250 investments into European battery and EV manufacturing - a key finding is the importance of FDI:
🇨🇳 One-third of all ongoing investment now comes from China
🇰🇷 Korean companies own four-fifths of operational battery capacity
🇨🇳 One-third of all ongoing investment now comes from China
🇰🇷 Korean companies own four-fifths of operational battery capacity
Reposted by Ben McWilliams
We launched our @bruegel.org EU Renewables Value Tracker based on great work by @mariejuge.bsky.social & @aroth.bsky.social:
www.bruegel.org/dataset/eu-renewables-value-track
Five insights 🧵:
1) The value of additional solar plants in south-east Europe and particularly Italy is still very high.
www.bruegel.org/dataset/eu-renewables-value-track
Five insights 🧵:
1) The value of additional solar plants in south-east Europe and particularly Italy is still very high.
December 9, 2025 at 9:59 AM
We launched our @bruegel.org EU Renewables Value Tracker based on great work by @mariejuge.bsky.social & @aroth.bsky.social:
www.bruegel.org/dataset/eu-renewables-value-track
Five insights 🧵:
1) The value of additional solar plants in south-east Europe and particularly Italy is still very high.
www.bruegel.org/dataset/eu-renewables-value-track
Five insights 🧵:
1) The value of additional solar plants in south-east Europe and particularly Italy is still very high.
Reposted by Ben McWilliams
EU reached a provisional agreement to ban RU gas, with LNG on 1 January 2027 and pipeline on 30 September 2027.
See current gas imports at @bruegel.org European gas imports tracker:
-Weekly RU gas via Turkstream at record seasonal levels
-RU LNG in November increased
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
See current gas imports at @bruegel.org European gas imports tracker:
-Weekly RU gas via Turkstream at record seasonal levels
-RU LNG in November increased
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
December 3, 2025 at 4:12 PM
EU reached a provisional agreement to ban RU gas, with LNG on 1 January 2027 and pipeline on 30 September 2027.
See current gas imports at @bruegel.org European gas imports tracker:
-Weekly RU gas via Turkstream at record seasonal levels
-RU LNG in November increased
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
See current gas imports at @bruegel.org European gas imports tracker:
-Weekly RU gas via Turkstream at record seasonal levels
-RU LNG in November increased
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
🆕 🏗️ We have launched the European Clean Investment Monitor
📝 tracks 390+ clean tech manufacturing investments worth €185 billion across Europe
🇭🇺 🇪🇸 HU and ES are attracting the largest investments in 2025
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/investments/...
📝 tracks 390+ clean tech manufacturing investments worth €185 billion across Europe
🇭🇺 🇪🇸 HU and ES are attracting the largest investments in 2025
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/investments/...
December 2, 2025 at 11:25 AM
🆕 🏗️ We have launched the European Clean Investment Monitor
📝 tracks 390+ clean tech manufacturing investments worth €185 billion across Europe
🇭🇺 🇪🇸 HU and ES are attracting the largest investments in 2025
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/investments/...
📝 tracks 390+ clean tech manufacturing investments worth €185 billion across Europe
🇭🇺 🇪🇸 HU and ES are attracting the largest investments in 2025
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/investments/...
🔨 Whack-a-mole - EU imports of Chinese hybrid EVs.
In 2024, the EU passed import tariffs on the import of Chinese electric vehicles. This covered pure battery cars but not plug-in hybrids.
📈 In recent months, PHEV imports from China are growing.
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org
In 2024, the EU passed import tariffs on the import of Chinese electric vehicles. This covered pure battery cars but not plug-in hybrids.
📈 In recent months, PHEV imports from China are growing.
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:10 PM
🔨 Whack-a-mole - EU imports of Chinese hybrid EVs.
In 2024, the EU passed import tariffs on the import of Chinese electric vehicles. This covered pure battery cars but not plug-in hybrids.
📈 In recent months, PHEV imports from China are growing.
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org
In 2024, the EU passed import tariffs on the import of Chinese electric vehicles. This covered pure battery cars but not plug-in hybrids.
📈 In recent months, PHEV imports from China are growing.
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org
🚗 Fine margins, but the EU has again broken its monthly record for the share of new vehicle registrations that are electric.
29.4% in October 2025 up from 29.1% a month previously.
🇫🇷🇩🇪 strong growth in FR & DE an important driver
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/technology/e...
29.4% in October 2025 up from 29.1% a month previously.
🇫🇷🇩🇪 strong growth in FR & DE an important driver
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/technology/e...
November 26, 2025 at 9:47 AM
🚗 Fine margins, but the EU has again broken its monthly record for the share of new vehicle registrations that are electric.
29.4% in October 2025 up from 29.1% a month previously.
🇫🇷🇩🇪 strong growth in FR & DE an important driver
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/technology/e...
29.4% in October 2025 up from 29.1% a month previously.
🇫🇷🇩🇪 strong growth in FR & DE an important driver
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/technology/e...
Considering structurally lower natural gas demand (≈ - 25%) storages are looking quite healthy for this time of year.
✔️ The result - TTF gas prices drop below €30 for the first time in a long time
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
✔️ The result - TTF gas prices drop below €30 for the first time in a long time
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
November 25, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Considering structurally lower natural gas demand (≈ - 25%) storages are looking quite healthy for this time of year.
✔️ The result - TTF gas prices drop below €30 for the first time in a long time
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
✔️ The result - TTF gas prices drop below €30 for the first time in a long time
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
📎 The case for delaying the application of the EU’s carbon border levy to electricity.
We argue that the inclusion of electricity in CBAM creates more problems than it solves; ways should be found to exempt it
@gzachmann.bsky.social and Rouven Stubbe
@bruegel.org
www.bruegel.org/analysis/cas...
We argue that the inclusion of electricity in CBAM creates more problems than it solves; ways should be found to exempt it
@gzachmann.bsky.social and Rouven Stubbe
@bruegel.org
www.bruegel.org/analysis/cas...
November 20, 2025 at 9:43 AM
📎 The case for delaying the application of the EU’s carbon border levy to electricity.
We argue that the inclusion of electricity in CBAM creates more problems than it solves; ways should be found to exempt it
@gzachmann.bsky.social and Rouven Stubbe
@bruegel.org
www.bruegel.org/analysis/cas...
We argue that the inclusion of electricity in CBAM creates more problems than it solves; ways should be found to exempt it
@gzachmann.bsky.social and Rouven Stubbe
@bruegel.org
www.bruegel.org/analysis/cas...
🆕 〽️ A dramatic drop in monthly EU clean-tech exports to the US
🤝 This drop follows the trade deal signed by the EU and US in August which increases tariffs on EU exports
Explore European trade in clean tech here - european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/trade
🤝 This drop follows the trade deal signed by the EU and US in August which increases tariffs on EU exports
Explore European trade in clean tech here - european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/trade
November 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
🆕 〽️ A dramatic drop in monthly EU clean-tech exports to the US
🤝 This drop follows the trade deal signed by the EU and US in August which increases tariffs on EU exports
Explore European trade in clean tech here - european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/trade
🤝 This drop follows the trade deal signed by the EU and US in August which increases tariffs on EU exports
Explore European trade in clean tech here - european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/trade
Reposted by Ben McWilliams
Europe lives an housing affordability crisis. As argued by my colleague @keliauskaite.bsky.social, the EU can help tackle it by reducing energy costs, decarbonising buildings and adhering to climate goals.
www.bruegel.org/analysis/sol...
www.bruegel.org/analysis/sol...
The solution to Europe’s housing affordability crisis must include building decarbonisation
The EU can help tackle Europe’s housing crisis by reducing energy costs, decarbonising buildings and adhering to climate goals
www.bruegel.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Europe lives an housing affordability crisis. As argued by my colleague @keliauskaite.bsky.social, the EU can help tackle it by reducing energy costs, decarbonising buildings and adhering to climate goals.
www.bruegel.org/analysis/sol...
www.bruegel.org/analysis/sol...
Reposted by Ben McWilliams
The thing that amazes me most about this figure is not the progress that we made from the blue line "where we were going", but that everyone seems to be having heart failure that the IEA made a scenario where emissions are flat, instead of falling 20% in 25 years...
www.axios.com/2025/11/13/c...
www.axios.com/2025/11/13/c...
November 14, 2025 at 8:51 AM
The thing that amazes me most about this figure is not the progress that we made from the blue line "where we were going", but that everyone seems to be having heart failure that the IEA made a scenario where emissions are flat, instead of falling 20% in 25 years...
www.axios.com/2025/11/13/c...
www.axios.com/2025/11/13/c...
🌎 From Paris to Belém .. as European leaders head to COP this week it is worth taking a step back
Europe's electricity system has transformed since 2015 with two-thirds generation now clean 👇
🚗 🏠 🏭 Electrification is the next big challenge
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/dep...
Europe's electricity system has transformed since 2015 with two-thirds generation now clean 👇
🚗 🏠 🏭 Electrification is the next big challenge
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/dep...
November 11, 2025 at 12:26 PM
🌎 From Paris to Belém .. as European leaders head to COP this week it is worth taking a step back
Europe's electricity system has transformed since 2015 with two-thirds generation now clean 👇
🚗 🏠 🏭 Electrification is the next big challenge
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/dep...
Europe's electricity system has transformed since 2015 with two-thirds generation now clean 👇
🚗 🏠 🏭 Electrification is the next big challenge
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/dep...
🇵🇱 Polish electric vehicle growth is impressive
Earlier this year, the Polish government passed a subsidy scheme of up to 40,000 zloty (€9,500 ish) for the purchase of new electric vehicles
📈 Pure BEV sales up from 2% to 10% & rapidly approaching EU average
tinyurl.com/yj4kfydu
Earlier this year, the Polish government passed a subsidy scheme of up to 40,000 zloty (€9,500 ish) for the purchase of new electric vehicles
📈 Pure BEV sales up from 2% to 10% & rapidly approaching EU average
tinyurl.com/yj4kfydu
November 6, 2025 at 9:32 AM
🇵🇱 Polish electric vehicle growth is impressive
Earlier this year, the Polish government passed a subsidy scheme of up to 40,000 zloty (€9,500 ish) for the purchase of new electric vehicles
📈 Pure BEV sales up from 2% to 10% & rapidly approaching EU average
tinyurl.com/yj4kfydu
Earlier this year, the Polish government passed a subsidy scheme of up to 40,000 zloty (€9,500 ish) for the purchase of new electric vehicles
📈 Pure BEV sales up from 2% to 10% & rapidly approaching EU average
tinyurl.com/yj4kfydu
Historically high imports of American (US) LNG imports landed in the EU during October 2025
🔢 dataset updated as always by @keliauskaite.bsky.social
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
🔢 dataset updated as always by @keliauskaite.bsky.social
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
November 6, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Historically high imports of American (US) LNG imports landed in the EU during October 2025
🔢 dataset updated as always by @keliauskaite.bsky.social
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
🔢 dataset updated as always by @keliauskaite.bsky.social
www.bruegel.org/dataset/euro...
🆕 📆 September 2025 - EU sets new record for electric vehicle registrations
🔵 29% of newly registered vehicles were electric, previous record was 28% in August 2023
🇩🇰🇸🇪🇫🇮🇳🇱 are out in front
🇪🇸🇱🇻🇵🇱🇵🇹 are accelerating quickly
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/technology/e...
🔵 29% of newly registered vehicles were electric, previous record was 28% in August 2023
🇩🇰🇸🇪🇫🇮🇳🇱 are out in front
🇪🇸🇱🇻🇵🇱🇵🇹 are accelerating quickly
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/technology/e...
November 4, 2025 at 10:12 AM
🆕 📆 September 2025 - EU sets new record for electric vehicle registrations
🔵 29% of newly registered vehicles were electric, previous record was 28% in August 2023
🇩🇰🇸🇪🇫🇮🇳🇱 are out in front
🇪🇸🇱🇻🇵🇱🇵🇹 are accelerating quickly
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/technology/e...
🔵 29% of newly registered vehicles were electric, previous record was 28% in August 2023
🇩🇰🇸🇪🇫🇮🇳🇱 are out in front
🇪🇸🇱🇻🇵🇱🇵🇹 are accelerating quickly
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/technology/e...
Reposted by Ben McWilliams
Australia to introduce power cuts... no, wait, free power for 3 hours a day, as the solar boom has reached its, what's the new word?, abundance phase.
HT @volts.wtf www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
HT @volts.wtf www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Australian households to get free electricity three hours a day
Saying there is enough solar power for everyone in the daytime, the federal government will direct retailers to provide three hours of free power every day to consumers.
www.abc.net.au
November 3, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Australia to introduce power cuts... no, wait, free power for 3 hours a day, as the solar boom has reached its, what's the new word?, abundance phase.
HT @volts.wtf www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
HT @volts.wtf www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Ben McWilliams
🔔 UPDATED: Russian foreign trade tracker
⛽ Fuel exports to Brazil dropped sharply due to refinery attacks & diesel export bans, but have been offset by crude exports to China/India.
🔗 www.bruegel.org/dataset/russ...
🖊️ Madalena Barata Da Rocha, @zsoltdarvas.bsky.social and Marie-Sophie Lappe
⛽ Fuel exports to Brazil dropped sharply due to refinery attacks & diesel export bans, but have been offset by crude exports to China/India.
🔗 www.bruegel.org/dataset/russ...
🖊️ Madalena Barata Da Rocha, @zsoltdarvas.bsky.social and Marie-Sophie Lappe
October 29, 2025 at 10:13 AM
🔔 UPDATED: Russian foreign trade tracker
⛽ Fuel exports to Brazil dropped sharply due to refinery attacks & diesel export bans, but have been offset by crude exports to China/India.
🔗 www.bruegel.org/dataset/russ...
🖊️ Madalena Barata Da Rocha, @zsoltdarvas.bsky.social and Marie-Sophie Lappe
⛽ Fuel exports to Brazil dropped sharply due to refinery attacks & diesel export bans, but have been offset by crude exports to China/India.
🔗 www.bruegel.org/dataset/russ...
🖊️ Madalena Barata Da Rocha, @zsoltdarvas.bsky.social and Marie-Sophie Lappe
Reposted by Ben McWilliams
Rolling back clean energy policies to “save” European industry will backfire. It may seem attractive in the short term, but it’s poor industrial policy in the long run.
Standing still on climate policy undermines competitiveness. Industry needs stability and long-term direction, not uncertainty.
Standing still on climate policy undermines competitiveness. Industry needs stability and long-term direction, not uncertainty.
October 28, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Rolling back clean energy policies to “save” European industry will backfire. It may seem attractive in the short term, but it’s poor industrial policy in the long run.
Standing still on climate policy undermines competitiveness. Industry needs stability and long-term direction, not uncertainty.
Standing still on climate policy undermines competitiveness. Industry needs stability and long-term direction, not uncertainty.
Reposted by Ben McWilliams
Chinese automakers aren’t huge in Europe yet, but they’re rising fast:
🇨🇳 BYD holds a 1.22% market share across 31 European countries.
🇨🇳 MG (SAIC) follows with 2.3%.
1/2
🇨🇳 BYD holds a 1.22% market share across 31 European countries.
🇨🇳 MG (SAIC) follows with 2.3%.
1/2
October 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Chinese automakers aren’t huge in Europe yet, but they’re rising fast:
🇨🇳 BYD holds a 1.22% market share across 31 European countries.
🇨🇳 MG (SAIC) follows with 2.3%.
1/2
🇨🇳 BYD holds a 1.22% market share across 31 European countries.
🇨🇳 MG (SAIC) follows with 2.3%.
1/2
Last year, the EU imported *€90 billion* in clean tech products.
This compares to exports of €83 billion, meaning the EU currently runs a modest net import position.
Data available with breakdowns per product category and trading partner 👇
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/trade
This compares to exports of €83 billion, meaning the EU currently runs a modest net import position.
Data available with breakdowns per product category and trading partner 👇
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/trade
October 28, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Last year, the EU imported *€90 billion* in clean tech products.
This compares to exports of €83 billion, meaning the EU currently runs a modest net import position.
Data available with breakdowns per product category and trading partner 👇
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/trade
This compares to exports of €83 billion, meaning the EU currently runs a modest net import position.
Data available with breakdowns per product category and trading partner 👇
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/trade
🇬🇧 A decade of UK electricity transformation
📉 A 110 TWh drop in fossil fuel output (equivalent to one-third 2014 demand)
🟢 50% met by growth in renewables
🔴 50% met by reduction in electricity demand
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/dep...
📉 A 110 TWh drop in fossil fuel output (equivalent to one-third 2014 demand)
🟢 50% met by growth in renewables
🔴 50% met by reduction in electricity demand
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/dep...
October 27, 2025 at 1:27 PM
🇬🇧 A decade of UK electricity transformation
📉 A 110 TWh drop in fossil fuel output (equivalent to one-third 2014 demand)
🟢 50% met by growth in renewables
🔴 50% met by reduction in electricity demand
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/dep...
📉 A 110 TWh drop in fossil fuel output (equivalent to one-third 2014 demand)
🟢 50% met by growth in renewables
🔴 50% met by reduction in electricity demand
european-clean-tech-tracker.bruegel.org/overview/dep...