The challenge of grids in the Clean Industrial Deal and affordable energy action plan : an incomplete answer to a key problem

The Clean Industrial Deal and Affordable Energy Communications set out a series of over 30 actions to enable the EU to pursue the aims of decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness at the same time. One of the key challenges identified is reducing electricity costs and increasing security by increasing the amount of renewable electricity in the EU’s electricity mix, and increasing electrification in industry, buildings and transport. However, one key bottleneck to achieving this is grids – in countries with already high RES shares, grids are congested and curtailment costs are skyrocketing. The Commission puts forward a number of suggestions on how to solve this. This paper asks – is this enough, and what more needs to be done?