The Mediterranean region has a renewable energy potential of 2,300 GW, more than twice the EU's current installed capacity, at a cost 30 to 40% lower than in Europe.

Omissions

• The 2,300 GW is explicitly a 'technical potential' estimate, not exploitable or planned capacity; the same Commission communication sets a target of only 15 GW of new renewable capacity in the region by 2035, i.e. under 1% of the quoted potential.
• The 'more than twice the EU's installed capacity' comparison is only narrowly true if measured against total EU installed generation capacity (approx. 1,100 GW in 2024 per Eurostat data, 2,300/1,100 ≈ 2.1x); against the EU's installed renewable capacity alone the multiple would be closer to three.
• The 30–40% cost differential refers to solar and wind generation costs specifically and comes from the Commission's own initiative documentation; no independent study corroborating that range was found.
• The figures originate in the European Commission's own T-MED/Pact for the Mediterranean communication of 9 June 2026, so the speaker (Commissioner Šuica) is restating the Commission's own promotional material rather than an independent assessment.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission – EU to mobilise up to €25 billion for renewable energy and clean technology by 2035 through Pact for the Mediterranean initiative"The Mediterranean region holds vast untapped renewable potential – 2,300 GW ... solar and wind costs 30-40% lower than in Europe. Yet many ..."
• PrimaryEurostat – Electricity production capacities (nrg_inf_epc)EU electricity production capacities in MW show a total of approximately 1.1 million MW (1 111 337.257) in the latest year reported (2024), i.e. roughly 1,100 GW, consistent with 2,300 GW being slightly more than twice the EU's installed capacity.
• PrimaryEurostat Statistics Explained – Electricity and heat statistics"The installed electrical capacity in the EU is presented in Table 2. It increased by 48.1% in the period from 2010 to 2024."
• SecondaryAEUR – The Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy and Clean Tech Initiative (T-MED)"All in all, the technical renewable-generation potential of the region is estimated at over 2,300 GW, more than twice the EU's current [installed capacity]"
• SecondaryEU Perspectives – The Mediterranean has the sun. Now the EU wants the billions to follow"The region's total technical potential reaches over 2,300 GW, more than twice the EU's current installed capacity."