The construction of new gas-fired power plants in six European Union countries risks undermining climate goals and prolonging reliance on fossil fuels for decades, according to a new report by the Beyond Fossil Fuels coalition of non-governmental organizations. The coalition warns that this expansion will divert crucial resources away from the development of renewable energy infrastructure, energy networks, and storage solutions.
The report highlights that European nations are planning to add 80 gigawatts (GW) of new gas capacity, a 32% increase over current levels. This increase in gas infrastructure comes at a time when there is insufficient investment in flexible, clean energy solutions essential for renewable-powered systems, such as modernized energy networks and large-scale storage facilities.
Rather than prioritizing clean energy solutions, investments are continuing to flow into the exploration and extraction of gas, as well as the construction of gas infrastructure like pipelines, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, and floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs). This strategy risks deepening Europe’s dependence on fossil fuel imports from politically unstable regions, while also diverting critical funds away from sustainable energy systems.
Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany, which together account for 45% of Europe’s gas capacity, are responsible for half of the planned new gas capacity, despite their commitments to decarbonizing electricity grids. Similarly, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, countries already behind in phasing out coal, are preparing to expand their gas plant capacity from 9 to 24 GW.
The report also criticizes the subsidization of many of these projects with taxpayer money, including funding from the EU’s Modernization Fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which are intended to support the transition to sustainable, low-carbon energy systems.
While European gas-fired power plants remain operational, progress on closures has been slow. Of the 855 gas plants tracked by Beyond Fossil Fuels, only four have been shut down since January 2023, with seven additional closures planned by 2035. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has set 2035 as the deadline for wealthy nations to decarbonize their power sectors to help meet global net-zero emissions targets.
