The plan presented today by the European Commission is a clear recognition of the essential role of grids to achieve the decarbonisation of the European energy system.

ENTSO-E welcomes today’s publication of the EU Action Plan for Grids by the European Commission, as a follow up to the successful ENTSO-E’s forum on ‘Future of our Grids’ on 7 September 2023.

Grids are the backbone of a well-functioning energy system, and timely grid development will be key to accelerate the energy transition in Europe. European TSOs reiterate their commitment to support the European Commission’s proposed actions in the EU Action Plan for Grids.

In particular, ENTSO-E welcomes the following key elements of the EU Action Plan for Grids:

• Planning and Delivering Europe’s Future Electricity System: the plan incentivized coordinated onshore and offshore planning and a stronger cooperation with DSOs, acknowledges the vital role of transmission and cross-border interconnections, and has concrete proposals to speed up permitting procedures.
• Facilitating financing the ramp-up of investments: providing stability and predictability for investors through the appropriate legal and regulatory framework, to adequately support the necessary grid expansions.
• Ensuring Adequate and sustainable Manufacturing Capacity: as first steps to address the current supply chain bottlenecks and manufacturing challenges including skills shortages that will need clear commitments from all parts of the industrial value chain.
• Enhanced Regulatory Drivers: the plan acknowledges the need for forward-looking regulations, including guidelines for anticipatory investments that should align regulatory frameworks with energy policies.

Damian Cortinas, Chair of the Board of ENTSO-E:

The European Commission’s EU Action Plan for Grids clearly brings into focus the critical role of electricity grids to achieve the European Energy Transition. We thank the European Commission for their leadership to support grid development now and in the future, and we believe that this Action Plan for Grids requires a strong governance to track the delivery of the targets, ensuring milestones are achieved and challenges are addressed in a timely manner.

ENTSO-E is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities under this Plan and to further cooperating with industry leaders and key stakeholders on its implementation. The EU Action Plan for Grids will contribute to accelerating the transition to a decarbonised, reliable and affordable energy system for Europe by unlocking the potential that grids can bring to meet the European decarbonisation targets.

Speaking at the PCI days, Sonya Twohig, Secretary-General of ENTSO-E, underscored the EU plan for Grids will be instrumental to achieve decarbonisation in Europe.

About ENTSO-E

ENTSO-E, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, is the association of the European transmission system operators (TSOs). The 39 member TSOs and 3 Observer Members representing 36 countries, are responsible for the secure and coordinated operation of Europe’s electricity system, the largest interconnected electrical grid in the world.

Press contact: media@entsoe.eu