Europe doesn't need to pick cleantech winners. It needs to set a price
13 maj 2026
11:10
European governments must set a price signal for cleantech if commercial projects are to succeed, writes Emin Askerov, a former green energy executive who now advises on first-of-a-kind green projects.
Francesco Sciortino, chief executive of Proxima Fusion, told Impact Loop last week that European governments shouldn't pick winners. They should follow where private money is being deployed. He said this in the same interview where he announced €400m of Bavarian state money toward a €2bn fusion test facility, building on seed capital from two German government funds, growth equity from Italy's state-backed Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, and a €2.5m grant from the European Innovation Fund.
He also said, a few lines later, that for civilisation-changing technologies "bigger than any one company," state backing is essential. I fully agree. For cleantech to thrive in Europe, it needs an ecosystem, and there isn't one now.