Vestas CEO calls for expanded use of gas, oil, and nuclear power in EU energy strategy

The European Union must reduce public involvement in energy planning and exploit all available energy sources—including fossil fuels and nuclear power—to secure its supply, the head of wind turbine manufacturer Vestas warned Thursday.

Speaking at a business conference in Copenhagen, Vestas CEO Henrik Andersen criticized what he called a “naive” and emotionally driven debate over energy policy, noting that Europe still imports more than half its energy needs. “We can no longer assume that the world will always prioritize supplying us,” he said.

Andersen singled out local opposition to wind and solar projects as a major obstacle, arguing that energy decisions should be centralized rather than left to regional or municipal authorities. “If we delegate energy supply questions too far down, we risk failure,” he stated. Without action, he warned, Europe could face blackouts and forced restrictions on electricity use for households and industries.

Citing last year’s grid collapses in Portugal and Spain—triggered by overloaded systems—Andersen described a potential scenario where mobile networks fail first, followed by transport breakdowns. “This isn’t a doomsday prediction; it’s a realistic crisis if supply and demand aren’t balanced,” he said.

To avert such risks, Andersen urged EU members to reconsider all energy options, including nuclear and domestic fossil fuel extraction. “Why exclude them if they strengthen our supply security?” he asked, questioning the logic of importing Norwegian gas while leaving North Sea reserves untapped.