Anyone following the news might start to think we are in the middle of an energy crisis. The orange man in the White House has once again attacked another country, causing oil and gas prices to soar. For a prolonged period, most likely, as a lot of infrastructure has been destroyed. But are we in an energy crisis?

In the past, we simply called this an oil crisis. In 1973, oil prices rose by 300 percent when oil producing countries imposed an embargo on nations that supported Israel in the Yom Kippur War. In 1979, Iran’s oil production declined as a result of the Iranian Revolution, leading to high oil prices, inflation, and unemployment.

The current “energy crisis” is also an oil crisis. Spain, for example, has been affected far less severely than Italy. Since 2019, Spain has doubled its renewable energy capacity, reducing the influence of expensive fossil fuels on electricity prices by 75 percent. Spain’s electricity prices used to be among the highest in Europe, now they are among the lowest.

Personally, although I use a lot of energy, I have also noticed little impact from the so-called “energy crisis,” thanks to my heat pump, solar panels, and travelling by train.

Does it matter what you call this crisis? Yes. It is crucial for a clear problem analysis and for identifying the right solutions. Framing it as an “energy crisis” keeps oil and gas out of the spotlight. As a consequence, it does not feel weird to view a fuel tax reduction as a solution, even though it would increase our fossil fuel consumption.

If we see the energy crisis for what it actually is—an oil crisis—the solution does not lie in pursuing or further subsidizing fossil fuels. Instead, it lies in energy conservation (through innovation and insulation) and in transitioning to renewable energy. That is also where the future lies for everyone at TU/e working on energy and contributing to solving the current oil crisis and preventing future ones.

Pieter Pauw researches climate policy and is an assistant professor in the Technology, Innovation and Society (IE&IS) group. The views expressed in this column are his own. See also Pauw’s opinion piece in NRC from March 18, 2026.

This column was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by the author and an editor.