Comment: How digital skills will drive the green transition

Europe’s journey to decarbonise its energy system is a monumental challenge that hinges on human capability as much as technology. Meeting ambitious targets for renewable energy deployment, heat pump adoption, and electric vehicle uptake demands a highly skilled workforce.

While sectors like manufacturing and energy already face talent shortages, the most pressing gap lies in digital skills, the backbone of the technologies driving the green transition. With 4 out of 10 adults in Europe lacking basic digital skills, it’s essential for European governments and businesses to invest in training and education at a local level. Europe also faces a shortage of digital experts who can drive cutting-edge technologies in preparation for a digitalised future.

Despite ongoing challenges, there has been notable progress by Europe in its energy transition. In 2024, the EU added 65.5GW of new solar capacity, a four per cent increase from the previous year. This brings the total installed capacity to 338GW, marking a fourfold increase over the past decade. While milestones like these are worth celebrating, it’s a small step in a far greater journey. The EU's current climate ambitions, a 55 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, demand accelerated progress across all sectors.