European electricity association warns of power shortages

According to Leonhard Birnbaum, chairman and CEO of Eurelectric, the power networks in more and more regions in Europe are reaching their maximum capacity. “The electricity grid is increasingly becoming the bottleneck,” says the chairman.

The result is that sustainable energy projects, among other things, are in the queue to be connected to the network. According to Birnbaum, network operators are “inundated with connection requests” from energy producers, such as wind and solar energy suppliers.

According to Brussels estimates, investments in the power grid of 584 billion euros per year are needed until 2030 to achieve the green objectives. It is not known exactly who should pay for this. Part of it will probably be paid for by increasing network rates.

Eurelectric presented its annual ‘power barometer’ on Thursday. “We need more lines, more digitalization and more ‘climate resilience’ to get our networks ready for ‘net-zero’. This requires a different regulatory approach. Grid operators must be able to make anticipatory investments so that we can start preparing for higher electrification,” said Secretary General of Eurelectric Kristian Ruby in a press release. “Europe needs large-scale electrification to get out of Putin’s grip. But with a society that relies more on electricity, electricity must be reliable for everyone.”

For Belgium, the electricity producer and supplier association Febeg, the Federation of Belgian Electricity and Gas Companies, is a member of Eurelectric. The European sector association represents more than 3,500 players active in power production, distribution and supply.