Europe can help boost the defensive security of the continent by increasing investment in renewable energy.
Speaking on the first day of the Seanergy 2025 conference (pictured) in Paris, Remi Gruet, chief executive of Ocean Energy said that renewables such as offshore wind can not just “protect our planet, it can help protect ourselves.”
He claimed that Europe had spent more money importing fossil fuel from Russia since the start of the Ukraine war than supporting it with arms.
“Renewable energy can help Ukraine because you will have freed up the money paying for fossil fuel to pay for its defence,” he said.
Gruet, who was debating the “tough choices” of investing in renewable energy during periods of geopolitical crisis added that more investment in renewables was crucial in helping Europe industrialise.
“Everyone wants their country to produce more jobs and for Europe to be more competitive,” he said. “Renewable energy can lower the price of electricity. It is a huge advantage for Europe. In France, you can make your croissants 30% cheaper with renewables.”
Rana Abid, Executive Director of Ren21 said the debate in European government on whether to spend money on defence or energy transition would only be a “short-term” issue.
“We are increasingly seeing that renewable energy is not just being viewed as taking a purely decarbonisation approach,” she said. “It is about building energy security and industrialisation.
“It is also seen as being positive for defensive security if you can make your country, like Finland, self-sufficient in energy. It is important that we elevate this narrative with facts and figures during times of geopolitical instability.”
Anna Pic, deputy of the French National Assembly, agreed that there was no contradiction between investing in defence or renewables.
“Renewables can help us reach the net zero target and strengthen the ability to defend ourselves,” she said. “We must not step back because these are difficult times.”