This Week in Energy — Brussels (#29, 2026)
Solar glass duties repealed; Strategic Projects for critical raw materials recognised; new industrial data reporting rules adopted; updated emissions reporting requirements; EU-UK competition law cooperation agreement.
October 19, 2026 to October 25, 2026
Solar glass duties repealed; Strategic Projects for critical raw materials recognised; new industrial data reporting rules adopted; updated emissions reporting requirements; EU-UK competition law cooperation agreement.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Repeal of definitive countervailing duties on imports of solar glass from China
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2310, adopted on 19 October 2026, repeals definitive countervailing duties on imports of solar glass originating in the People's Republic of China. The expiry review, conducted under Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1037, found that Union production of the product ceased in early 2025 and no verifiable prospect of resumption exists. The Commission concluded that maintaining duties no longer serves the Union interest, given the absence of active Union producers. The regulation entered into force following its publication in the Official Journal.
Repeal of definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of solar glass from China
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2314 of 19 October 2026 repeals definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of solar glass originating in China, pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036. The investigation determined that Union industry ceased production and no prospect of resumption was substantiated. The Commission weighed interests involved and found no compelling reasons to prolong measures. The regulation is binding and directly applicable in all Member States.
Recognition of Strategic Projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act
Commission Decision (EU) 2026/2349 of 9 October 2026 recognises certain critical raw material projects as Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252. The decision follows a second cut-off date for applications on 15 January 2026, with 98 projects considered complete and assessed against technical, financial, ESG, and cross-border criteria. The recognised projects span extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution activities, and were adopted in accordance with the opinion of the European Critical Raw Materials Board.
Delegated Regulation amending clearing thresholds for OTC derivatives
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2343 of 14 July 2026 amends regulatory technical standards in Delegated Regulation (EU) No 149/2013 concerning clearing thresholds for OTC derivatives. The thresholds are recalibrated for credit, equity, interest rate, foreign exchange, commodity, and emission allowance derivatives, as required by Regulation (EU) 2024/2987. ESMA is tasked with annual assessment of market indicators to trigger reviews of threshold values. The regulation enters into force twenty days after publication.
Delegated Regulation on derogations for removability and replaceability of portable batteries
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1770 supplements Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, specifying derogations for certain products with portable batteries, including wearables, medical devices, and telematics equipment. The regulation allows batteries to be removable and replaceable only by independent professionals where required for safety. The derogations are aligned with evolving product types and safety requirements and enter into force twenty days after publication.
Implementing Decision on reporting environmental data for industrial installations
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2267 establishes the format and frequency of data and the list of relevant raw materials to be reported by Member States under Regulation (EU) 2024/1244, which creates an Industrial Emissions Portal. The decision aligns reporting requirements with best available techniques reference documents, reduces administrative burden, and introduces prefilled templates. Application begins on 1 January 2028.
Amendment of reporting requirements for industrial emissions
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2326 amends Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1135 regarding reporting under Directive 2010/75/EU on industrial emissions, effective from 1 January 2028. The decision streamlines and updates reporting requirements, aligns with Regulation (EU) 2024/1244, and introduces phased obligations for installations rearing poultry and pigs. The new reporting tool is harmonised with the Industrial Emissions Portal.
EU-UK agreement on cooperation in competition law enforcement
The Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom on cooperation in the application of competition laws, published on 19 October 2026, formalises mechanisms for information sharing, coordination of enforcement activities, and confidentiality. The agreement supplements the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, establishing protocols for coordination between the European Commission, national competition authorities, and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority.
EU Council
Upcoming Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy) meeting
Energy ministers will convene in Luxembourg on 29 October 2026 to discuss the proposed regulation on network charges, future-proofing electricity bills, energy security, and potential energy targets for the post-2030 framework.
What We're Reading This Week
- Electricity demand in September at highest since 2014: +6.5 per cent: September electricity consumption surged 6.5%, reaching its highest level in nearly a decade and signaling increased energy use.
- High temperatures drive up electricity consumption, but the share of renewable energy is steadily declining: Despite rising electricity demand due to heat waves, renewables' share in the energy mix is falling, raising sustainability concerns.
- Gas from Africa: EU gives the green light to an exemption for Transmed and Greenstream: EU grants exemptions to Transmed and Greenstream pipelines, boosting African gas imports and energy diversification efforts.
- MEPs back three-year methane delay, triple what the EU Commission wanted: European lawmakers approve a three-year postponement for methane emissions rules, extending the timeline far beyond initial Commission proposals.
- UK's Burnham revives North Sea gas field project that stalled under Starmer: Burnham's decision to restart the North Sea gas field project signals a policy shift on energy development under new leadership.
