{"id":1949110,"date":"2026-05-22T10:10:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1949110"},"modified":"2026-05-22T10:10:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:10:31","slug":"eu-green-economy-booms-as-solar-energy-grows-at-record-pace-whats-the-most-profitable-sector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1949110","title":{"rendered":"EU green economy booms as solar energy grows at record pace. What&#8217;s the most profitable sector?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/69\/74\/1200x675_cmsv2_62325cc4-eeef-5a48-a220-ba7ed86e6d20-9766974.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2895781-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2895781\" data-cid=\"9768999\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895781-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/89\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_d8649914-314b-53ae-b0b8-42337e33eeca-9768999.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"There was a net gain of just 154 air routes across Europe in 2025\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU air connectivity \u2018flatlined\u2019 in 2025, with route numbers growing 1%\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895697-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2895697\" data-cid=\"9768778\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895697-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/85\/17\/189x106_cmsv2_8b37c58b-ccd4-5558-bb67-e39003b8bfa7-9768517.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Iran, war in the Strait of Hormuz\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Iran<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran asserts jurisdiction over UAE and Oman waters in new Hormuz map\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895738-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2895738\" data-cid=\"9768777\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895738-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/60\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_9f600869-7331-50bf-8611-239000cb924d-9766045.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman wearing U.S. flag motif pants walks past a building that houses an art installation on the Cuban Revolution\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cuba<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How Cubans feel about the US indictment of Ra\u00fal Castro\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895729-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2895729\" data-cid=\"9768694\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895729-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/86\/94\/189x106_cmsv2_f6fb81aa-2ff1-54db-a03a-c5568746ac84-9768694.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"SpaceX's mega rocket Starship is prepared for a test flight that was later delayed, in Starbase, Texas, Thursday, May 21, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    High-stakes SpaceX rocket launch delayed due to mechanical woes\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895781-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2895781\" data-cid=\"9768999\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895781-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/89\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_d8649914-314b-53ae-b0b8-42337e33eeca-9768999.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"There was a net gain of just 154 air routes across Europe in 2025\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU air connectivity \u2018flatlined\u2019 in 2025, with route numbers growing 1%\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895697-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2895697\" data-cid=\"9768778\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895697-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/85\/17\/189x106_cmsv2_8b37c58b-ccd4-5558-bb67-e39003b8bfa7-9768517.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Iran, war in the Strait of Hormuz\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Iran<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran asserts jurisdiction over UAE and Oman waters in new Hormuz map\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895738-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2895738\" data-cid=\"9768777\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895738-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/60\/45\/189x106_cmsv2_9f600869-7331-50bf-8611-239000cb924d-9766045.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman wearing U.S. flag motif pants walks past a building that houses an art installation on the Cuban Revolution\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cuba<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How Cubans feel about the US indictment of Ra\u00fal Castro\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895729-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2895729\" data-cid=\"9768694\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895729-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/86\/94\/189x106_cmsv2_f6fb81aa-2ff1-54db-a03a-c5568746ac84-9768694.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"SpaceX's mega rocket Starship is prepared for a test flight that was later delayed, in Starbase, Texas, Thursday, May 21, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    High-stakes SpaceX rocket launch delayed due to mechanical woes\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          My Europe Series<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe in Motion<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            EU green economy booms as solar energy grows at record pace. What&#8217;s the most profitable sector?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative u-max-width-1280 u-margin-x-auto\" data-video=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;xaaogvc&quot;,&quot;articleId&quot;:2895411,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;EU green economy booms as solar energy grows at record pace. What's the most profitable sector?&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/44\/58\/33\/07\/SHD_PYR_4458337_20260521152817.mp4&quot;,&quot;programId&quot;:&quot;europe-in-motion&quot;,&quot;player&quot;:&quot;dailymotion&quot;,&quot;geoBlock&quot;:[&quot;&quot;],&quot;sources&quot;:[{&quot;file&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/44\/58\/33\/07\/SHD_PYR_4458337_20260521152817.mp4&quot;,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;hd&quot;,&quot;default&quot;:true}],&quot;description&quot;:&quot;EU countries doubled their green-economy output in less than 10 years. Will this continue despite some scaling back of green policies?&quot;,&quot;isLive&quot;:false,&quot;articleUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/video\/2026\/05\/22\/eu-green-economy-booms-as-solar-energy-grows-at-record-pace-whats-the-most-profitable-sect&quot;,&quot;duration&quot;:90000}\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/69\/74\/1536x864_cmsv2_62325cc4-eeef-5a48-a220-ba7ed86e6d20-9766974.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Euronews\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Euronews<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Europe in Motion<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Europe in Motion\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspAlessio Dell&#8217;Anna&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbsp<b>video by L\u00e9o Arnoux<\/b><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1779444631\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2026-05-22 12:10:31 +02:00\">22\/05\/2026 &#8211; 12:10 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"12:43\">12:43<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links 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<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        EU countries doubled their green-economy output in less than 10 years. Will this continue despite some scaling back of green policies?<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>As the war in Iran and global tensions continue to fuel uncertainty in energy markets, renewables have recently moved back into the spotlight as a way for Europe to strengthen its energy independence.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Usage across the bloc <strong>reached nearly 50%<\/strong>, according to Eurostat, with countries like Austria and Sweden already meeting 90% of their energy needs with renewables.<\/p>\n<p>Although the largest shares of green energy are produced by wind (38%) and hydro (26%), the fastest-growing source is solar, which went from just 1% in 2008 to over 23% in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Experts claim photovoltaic panels <strong>might even overtake hydro<\/strong>, in terms of energy produced, &#8220;in the next few years&#8221;.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.592\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/69\/74\/808x478_cmsv2_8107543f-9efe-5de5-a0f9-6f1e8f9b6e5f-9766974.jpg\" alt=\"A solar installer secures a solar panel onto the roof of a home in Manila, Philippines, on May 1, 2026\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">A solar installer secures a solar panel onto the roof of a home in Manila, Philippines, on May 1, 2026<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP\/Anton L. Delgado<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What&#8217;s the most profitable green energy sector?<\/h2>\n<p>Recycling is good for the environment, and apparently for the economy too.<\/p>\n<p>Waste management is leading as the most profitable green economy sector in the EU, according to new Eurostat data.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, it generated more than \u20ac200 million, a 78% jump in just 10 years.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s double the output of the second- and third-most valuable activities, wastewater management and material recovery.<\/p>\n<p>Waste management is also the largest sector in terms of workforce, employing nearly one million people across the bloc.<\/p>\n<h2>Green jobs are on the rise: Where are most people employed?<\/h2>\n<p>Jobs in the EU\u2019s green economy have grown by more than two million in less than 10 years, according to Eurostat.<\/p>\n<p>There were just 3.6 million of them in 2014, but they climbed to 5.8 million in 2023, with an average annual increase of 5.5 percentage points.<\/p>\n<p>Employment in the EU green economy ranges from environmental protection &#8211; like wastewater and forest management &#8211; to renewable energy production and housing energy efficiency.<\/p>\n<h2>The Environmental Lead &#8211; a key figure in future business strategies?<\/h2>\n<p>Energy savings is in second place, after waste management, with more than 800,000 professionals, followed by renewables at 785,000. Soil and groundwater protection is also relevant, employing nearly 680,000 people, ahead of wastewater management and its over half a million workers.<\/p>\n<p>Although Eurostat doesn&#8217;t provide data on this, there is another role that seems to be playing an increasingly important part in green strategies, and in a way helps connect the dots between different green fields: the environmental lead.<\/p>\n<p>They&#8217;re in charge of overseeing a company&#8217;s or project&#8217;s environmental impact. Basically, they make sure that activities comply with environmental regulations &#8211; carrying out audits and measuring emissions. They also propose circular economy practices to boost sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint.<\/p>\n<h2>Do green policies still have momentum?<\/h2>\n<p>The EU green economy has been growing steadily since 2014, with an average annual output increase of nearly 8%.<\/p>\n<p>In less than 10 years, member states nearly doubled their output, generating \u20ac1.33 billion in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>The debate in Europe is now whether this sector will continue expanding without the momentum it had before the 2024 European elections, which, following a setback for the Greens, marked a shift towards more conservative political parties with less environmentally-friendly policies that instead aimed to make the EU more competitive.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/69\/74\/808x539_cmsv2_89ae60f5-2b3a-5d70-a58c-fda4d150c651-9766974.jpg\" alt=\"Protestors burn trash near a statue and tractor during a demonstration of European farmers near the European Parliament in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Protestors burn trash near a statue and tractor during a demonstration of European farmers near the European Parliament in Brussels, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP\/Marius Burgelman<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The moment that encapsulated this was the EU Commission&#8217;s introduction of the Omnibus I package, in February 2025, a set of proposed law changes with the aim of reducing and simplifying the administrative and regulatory burden for businesses, especially environmental requirements. A move which, however, some critics deemed as deregulation disguised as simplification.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, the EU Commission also suspended negotiations on a law &#8211; the Green Claims Directive &#8211; which was designed to stop greenwashing.<\/p>\n<p>Other moves in that direction included the shelving of a proposal to reduce pesticide use, following massive farmer protests in Europe, as well as the watering down of the Nature Restoration Law, which sets binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Where in Europe is tap water the most and least safe?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Green electricity: Which EU countries are using the most?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Is the Green Deal still alive? Javi L\u00f3pez and Hildegard Bentele pick sides in The Ring<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Environment<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Jobs<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  green<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Economy<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2895633-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895633\" data-cid=\"9768146\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895633-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/81\/46\/320x180_cmsv2_335a983a-ad0b-54fc-97d2-bde2c53d3e1e-9768146.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Valdis Dombrovskis, EU COmmissioner for Economy and Productivity\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU \u2018should not\u2019 look to Russia for energy relief, Dombrovskis says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2895688-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895688\" data-cid=\"9768737\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895688-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/84\/71\/320x180_cmsv2_c29e0c0e-23db-566e-9743-fcfcb648f979-9768471.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Portugal and France in shock: what is known about the case of the abandoned children?\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    The shocking case of the abandoned children: what we know<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2895663-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895663\" data-cid=\"9768537\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895663-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/83\/50\/320x180_cmsv2_16e2ce7c-8415-5acd-a2b7-b58bce2fe1c6-9768350.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President Donald Trump takes part in an event devoted to easing federal regulations on refrigerants in the Oval Office of the White House, 21 May 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    More US troops in Poland &#8211; 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src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895633-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895633\" data-cid=\"9768146\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895633-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/81\/46\/320x180_cmsv2_335a983a-ad0b-54fc-97d2-bde2c53d3e1e-9768146.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Valdis Dombrovskis, EU COmmissioner for Economy and Productivity\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU \u2018should 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class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895663\" data-cid=\"9768537\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895663-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/83\/50\/320x180_cmsv2_16e2ce7c-8415-5acd-a2b7-b58bce2fe1c6-9768350.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President Donald Trump takes part in an event devoted to easing federal regulations on refrigerants in the Oval Office of the White House, 21 May 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    More US troops in Poland &#8211; What does the country have to say about it<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895641-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895641\" data-cid=\"9768698\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895641-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/86\/98\/320x180_cmsv2_344c4e1f-9477-51e3-b22f-31aa67538637-9768698.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Istanbul Bilgi University\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Erdo\u011fan signs decree closing Bilgi University amid criminal probe<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895330-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895330\" data-cid=\"9766562\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895330-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/65\/62\/320x180_cmsv2_7167ed5e-99dc-5b11-b323-855bf88bfbf7-9766562.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"File - People looking at a Lamborghini Veneno Roadster (2014) sport car, before an auction in Switzerland 29 Sept. 2019. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European countries hand the most income to the ultra-rich?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895473-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895473\" data-cid=\"9767321\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Mon Dieu! Agatha Christie&#8217;s Poirot is getting a reboot<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895164-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895164\" data-cid=\"9765542\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Winners and losers: Real household income growth across Europe in 2025<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895495-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895495\" data-cid=\"9767440\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;No way out&#8217;: Divers who died in the Maldives may have got lost<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895370-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895370\" data-cid=\"9766793\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Mother arrested after French boys abandoned in Portugal, police say<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895330-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2895330\" data-cid=\"9766562\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Which European countries hand the most income to the ultra-rich?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">As the war in Iran and global tensions continue to fuel uncertainty in energy markets, renewables have recently moved back into the spotlight as a way for Europe to strengthen its energy independence.Usage across the bloc reached nearly 50%, according to Eurostat, with countries like Austria and Sweden already meeting 90% of their energy needs with renewables.Although the largest shares of green energy are produced by wind (38%) and hydro (26%), the fastest-growing source is solar, which went from just 1% in 2008 to over 23% in 2024.Experts claim photovoltaic panels might even overtake hydro, in terms of energy produced, &#8220;in the next few years&#8221;.What&#8217;s the most profitable green energy sector?Recycling is good for the environment, and apparently for the economy too.Waste management is leading as the most profitable green economy sector in the EU, according to new Eurostat data.In 2023, it generated more than \u20ac200 million, a 78% jump in just 10 years.That\u2019s double the output of the second- and third-most valuable activities, wastewater management and material recovery.Waste management is also the largest sector in terms of workforce, employing nearly one million people across the bloc.Green jobs are on the rise: Where are most people employed?Jobs in the EU\u2019s green economy have grown by more than two million in less than 10 years, according to Eurostat.There were just 3.6 million of them in 2014, but they climbed to 5.8 million in 2023, with an average annual increase of 5.5 percentage points.Employment in the EU green economy ranges from environmental protection &#8211; like wastewater and forest management &#8211; to renewable energy production and housing energy efficiency.The Environmental Lead &#8211; a key figure in future business strategies?Energy savings is in second place, after waste management, with more than 800,000 professionals, followed by renewables at 785,000. Soil and groundwater protection is also relevant, employing nearly 680,000 people, ahead of wastewater management and its over half a million workers.Although Eurostat doesn&#8217;t provide data on this, there is another role that seems to be playing an increasingly important part in green strategies, and in a way helps connect the dots between different green fields: the environmental lead.They&#8217;re in charge of overseeing a company&#8217;s or project&#8217;s environmental impact. Basically, they make sure that activities comply with environmental regulations &#8211; carrying out audits and measuring emissions. They also propose circular economy practices to boost sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint.Do green policies still have momentum?The EU green economy has been growing steadily since 2014, with an average annual output increase of nearly 8%.In less than 10 years, member states nearly doubled their output, generating \u20ac1.33 billion in 2023.The debate in Europe is now whether this sector will continue expanding without the momentum it had before the 2024 European elections, which, following a setback for the Greens, marked a shift towards more conservative political parties with less environmentally-friendly policies that instead aimed to make the EU more competitive.The moment that encapsulated this was the EU Commission&#8217;s introduction of the Omnibus I package, in February 2025, a set of proposed law changes with the aim of reducing and simplifying the administrative and regulatory burden for businesses, especially environmental requirements. A move which, however, some critics deemed as deregulation disguised as simplification.Last year, the EU Commission also suspended negotiations on a law &#8211; the Green Claims Directive &#8211; which was designed to stop greenwashing.Other moves in that direction included the shelving of a proposal to reduce pesticide use, following massive farmer protests in Europe, as well as the watering down of the Nature Restoration Law, which sets binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/05\/22\/eu-green-economy-booms-as-solar-energy-grows-at-record-pace-whats-the-most-profitable-sect&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/69\/74\/1200x675_cmsv2_62325cc4-eeef-5a48-a220-ba7ed86e6d20-9766974.jpg&#8221;] Travel News EU air connectivity \u2018flatlined\u2019 in 2025, with route numbers growing 1% Iran Iran asserts jurisdiction over UAE and Oman waters in new Hormuz map Cuba How Cubans feel about the US indictment of Ra\u00fal Castro Tech News High-stakes SpaceX rocket launch delayed due to mechanical woes Travel News EU air [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1949110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1949110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1949110"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1949110\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1949110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1949110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1949110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}