WEMO 2025 (complet) - Flipbook - Page 52
W E M O 202 5
O U T LO O K
These extra energy transition costs weigh on citizens with
tight budgets, particularly low-income households.
Public concerns over the rapid expansion of renewable energy
were evident in debates at the French Parliament in June
2025395. For years, the French government has delayed
adopting the new Multiannual Energy Program due to
signi昀椀cant controversies. In June 2025, a bill proposing a
moratorium on renewable energy passed its 昀椀rst reading in
Parliament but was ultimately rejected, re昀氀ecting the views
of a notable portion of the population.
393
https://www.foronuclear.org/en/updates/news/nuclear-energy-could-have-saved-germanye332-billion-according-to-research/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20study%2C%20
Germany's,subsidies%2C%20totaling%20%E2%82%AC696%20billion.
394
https://www.statista.com/statistics/263492/electricity-prices-in-selected-countries/
395
https://www.rj-homr-solar.fr,https://www.taiyangnews.info
396
https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2024
In this Outlook of the 27th edition of WEMO, after reviewing
the key trends of 2024 regarding energy and climate change,
we tried to answer three questions:
• Will nuclear energy contribute enough to the Energy
Transition?
• Will the electrical grids be able to adapt to the Energy
Transition challenges?
• What technologies will support the Energy Transition?
We then reviewed the impact of present geopolitics on the
energy sector and ultimately arrived at a critical question: are
we at a tipping point in the energy transition?
Stationary battery installations, led by China, grew 60% from
2023 with prices dropping by 20%. By 2035, stationary
applications could account for 16% of batteries deployed
globally, propelled by falling battery costs and increased grid
stability issues linked to growing intermittent renewables
penetration.
Despite these impressive steps, the energy additions from
low carbon sources have not been su昀케cient to meet the
growth in total global energy demand, meaning the use of
fossil fuels has continued to increase. Consequently, fossil
fuels have continued to dominate the global energy supply,
accounting for 80% of primary energy consumption396.
The 2024 energy outlook highlighted a complex
transition landscape. This landscape was marked by
strong renewable energy growth driven by Chinese solar
installations, continued challenges in scaling green hydrogen
production and consumption, and di昀케culties in building a
European battery industry.
Solar and wind capacity additions surged, with global clean
energy investments reaching $2000bn, driven by China
investments and helped by policies like the U.S. In昀氀ation
Reduction Act and EU’s Green Deal.
Green hydrogen development lagged due to technical
di昀케culties in scaling up electrolyzers manufacturing, high
costs, regulatory uncertainties, and a mismatch between
demand and production.
WEMO 2025
Germany’s Energiewende, which focuses on shifting to
renewable energy, has estimated a cost of €387 billion in
investments, with an additional €310 billion in subsidies,
totaling €696 billion393. It has driven electricity costs among
the highest in the OECD. Due to subsidies for renewables and
grid upgrades costing394, German households are paying $0.40
per kWh in 2025, roughly more than the double of the U.S.
average of $0.18/kWh.
Summary and Conclusion:
51
The 昀椀nancial burden of energy transition policies on citizens
in Western nations di昀昀ers signi昀椀cantly based on regional
factors, available natural resources, and national energy
strategies. This burden manifests through elevated electricity
and fuel costs, higher taxes, and increased personal
expenditures.391,392
