The blackout in Spain and the challenges of EU electricity grids

The recent blackout in Spain and Portugal illustrates the importance of developing an EU electricity grid that is fit for purpose in light of the EU’s decarbonisation agenda.

The new paper by FSR Prof. Christopher Jones, ‘The Challenge of grids in the Clean Industrial Deal and Affordable Energy Action Plan: an incomplete answer to a key problem’,  analyses the challenges in developing EU electricity grids and taking a major step forward in grid investment.

The Challenge of grids in the Clean Industrial Deal and Affordable Energy Action Plan

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?

Download the Policy Paper

Christopher Jones is a Part-time Professor at the Florence School of Regulation (European University Institute) and the Director of the Executive Course to master European Hydrogen Legislation.

Christopher is Adviser ‘Hors Classe’ and former Deputy Director General at DG Energy. He has a background in Law (University of Reading; Colledge of Europe) and he has been serving in the European Commission for more than thirty years.