🆕 Position paper: 1️⃣ year after - what happened to the EU Grids Action Plan? 🏗️ One year ago the EU presented its Grids Action Plan. It comprised 14 immediate actions to accelerate the build-out of Europe's electricity #grids and optimise the use of existing grid connections. 📢 For WindEurope one thing is clear: Infrastructure drives competitiveness. Europe's economy will not be competitive unless it is underpinned by the electricity infrastructure it needs. The EU Grids Action Plan was the right initiative and the right time. But it's not implemented fast enough. We need more action from the EU, Member States and TSOs. 🆘 A recent WindEurope study found that hundreds of gigawatts of new wind energy are stuck in grid permitting queues: https://lnkd.in/dzbZnEme 📝 In our new position paper we are breaking down what Europe needs to do now to accelerate grid build-out and unlock valuable wind energy capacity: https://lnkd.in/egsUdgGA
One of the main issues regarding grid is not only the grid queues full of speculative projects but also the lack of transparency and visibility on the available grid capacity, this is the case with the Portuguese TSO for example
There are still many barriers to progress: from permitting- which with public consultation will always be slow (start earlier), technology that is still evolving, shortages of people at all levels, and funding (this is still considered critical infrastructure and thus of national interest, with little consideration of commercial interests). With a dependence on national governments, which are structurally volatile compared to the long term electricity projects, and an environment where even the richer nations are struggling to repair debt, many are nervous to spend on the required infrastructure. However, you are correct to lobby. Long term European competitiveness depends on transportation of generation to consumption.
Emily Pappas
1w
The EU Grids Action Plan is crucial for Europe's energy transition and economic competitiveness. However, the slow implementation is concerning. Accelerating grid development and streamlining permitting processes are essential to harness the full potential of wind energy. Collaboration between the EU, Member States, and TSOs is vital to overcome these challenges.
Enhancing the use of existing networks by leveraging flexibility and grid optimization technologies must be better considered. That said, grid expansion is inevitable to meet national energy targets!
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1w“hundreds of gigawatts of new wind energy are stuck in grid permitting queues”… OUCH!