EU STRATEGIC AUTONOMY: cOMPARING GERMAN OFFSHORE WIND AND PORTUGUESE HYDROPOWER

Abstract

This research investigates the mechanisms through which the European Union (EU) pursues strategic autonomy in the energy sector by examining the contrasting renewable energy trajectories of Germany and Portugal. The central research question explores how specific national strategies in offshore wind and hydropower influence the broader geopolitical leverage and energy security of the EU. Utilising the Renewable Energy Leeadership Model, this study evaluates the transition through the three analytical pillars of policy enablers , infrastructure modernization, and industrial innovation. The paper employs a qualitative comparative case study design. The findings indicate that Germany represents a scale-focused pathway characterized by the rapid expansion of frontier offshore wind technology. Conversely, Portugal exemplifies a stability-focused pathway that leverages the modernisation of mature hydripower assets for grid flexibility and storage. The analysis suggests a conceptual complemntarity between the German generation and Portuguese pumped storage capabilities. However, the study identifies critical structural barriers, most notably the lack of cross-border interconnections and persistent regulatory fragmentation. This comparative analysis concludes that individual national advancements are insufficient to achieve collective strategic autonomy without significant investment in trans-European infrastructure.