Position paper
Fortum's comments on the Industrial Accelerator Act
15 June 2026
The energy sector plays an important role in the EU's industrial policy ambition, and Fortum positively notes the Industrial Accelerator Act’s goal to support energy-intensive sectors in decarbonising, as well as diversifying and developing competitive European supply chains. We submitted our views to the Commission on 11 June 2026.
The EU’s Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) is a key initiative under the Clean Industrial Deal, designed to strengthen Europe’s industrial competitiveness while accelerating the clean transition. By aiming to increase manufacturing to at least 20% of EU GDP by 2035, the Act introduces measures such as streamlined permitting, Industrial Acceleration Areas, foreign investment screening caps and new criteria for public procurement, public support schemes and net-zero technology auctions.
Supporting Europe’s clean industrial transition
Fortum welcomes the overall objectives of the IAA. Developing a competitive and resilient European manufacturing sector is of paramount importance during times of geopolitical and economic volatility. We agree with the Commission’s assessment that strengthening Europe’s economic resilience, competitiveness and job creation is essential, while ensuring that high climate and energy ambitions are maintained. From a Nordic perspective, the clean transition of the energy sector is already well advanced, and the energy industry today stands ready to support the clean industrial transition, focusing on electrification and decarbonisation.
Supporting clean manufacturing, demand creation for low-carbon materials and decarbonisation projects of energy-intensive industries is especially important. One important aspect hindering investments in the production of new low-carbon materials and products is the lack of demand signals and the lack of willingness to pay a green premium. For example, investments in green steel or renewable hydrogen have stagnated in recent years. Facilitating demand signals through lead market creation, as proposed in the IAA, is therefore a welcome initiative. Introducing such signals for low-carbon steel, cement and aluminium can boost their competitiveness against fossil-based products.
Read our comments in full from the attached position paper.
