Russia’s invasion of Ukraine changed the European energy equation—now efficiency is just as important as sustainability
Fortune 31
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine made European gas costs and supply security less predictable, forcing the energy transition to be planned around affordability and reliability as well as emissions cuts. Europe’s energy mix is cited as 48% renewables and 28% nuclear in 2024, but the article argues regulation should speed industry adoption and avoid slowing it while tightening emissions from remaining fossil generation. The piece says AI—especially “physical AI” for buildings and factories—can improve efficiency by learning from real-world conditions and automating tasks like multi-detector safety testing, reducing manual energy waste and labor bottlenecks.