According to a recent study from Mistra Electrification, the EU's response to the 2022 energy crisis did not lead to an increase in the transition towards fossil-free energy, despite the doubling of subsidies for fossil fuels. Researcher Anastasia Pavlenko from Central European University noted that the crisis resulted in neither a faster nor slower transition, indicating stagnation in policies.

Coal usage resumed its long-term downward trend following 2022, while gas consumption peaked and subsequently declined. Oil usage remained relatively stagnant, presenting a picture of little change in fossil fuel dependency during and after the crisis. Meanwhile, renewable energy sources like solar power continued to experience rapid growth, although onshore wind power did not see similar increases. Offshore wind power did receive more ambitious targets but is likely not to meet those goals.

The findings raise concerns about the effectiveness of subsidies as a mechanism to drive a transition to sustainable energy and suggest that future policies may need to be reevaluated to ensure progress towards fossil-free energy goals. The lack of significant change in consumption patterns, despite increased funding for fossil fuels, highlights the need for a bold strategic shift in how the EU approaches its energy policies moving forward.