Energy Security and Green Transition in Times of Economic Turmoil: Comparative Insights from Romania and Spain

This study compares how Romania and Spain balance energy security and decarbonization under sustained economic turbulence (2010–2024). Using harmonized indicators from Eurostat, the IEA and the World Bank, we quantify energy import dependency, electricity prices, carbon intensity, renewable deployment and investment patterns, and read these trends against EU policy frameworks (European Green Deal, REPowerEU). Descriptive evidence shows that Spain’s rapid wind–solar expansion substantially lowered carbon intensity, while the country remained more exposed to gas-driven price surges in 2022–2023. Romania’s nuclear–hydro backbone buffered shocks and import exposure, yet coincided with slower renewable uptake and persistently higher carbon intensity in fossil-based segments. Divergence is most closely associated with investment scale and regulatory predictability. Policy implications are twofold: Spain would benefit from additional firm capacity and market-design adjustments to dampen price volatility without diluting ambition; Romania should accelerate grid modernization and mobilize private capital to unlock its renewable potential. The comparative lens highlights actionable complementarities and cautions against one-size-fits-all solutions in the EU.