Breaking borders: towards a European renewable supergrid
Europe's energy transition is entering a crucial moment. With solar and wind power generation breaking records and displacing fossil fuels, the next step towards a low-cost renewable future rests on grids and cross-border interconnection.
Cross-border electricity exchange will play a crucial role in integrating wind and solar, and avoiding energy shortages or curtailment. The Paris Agreement Compatible energy scenario, developed by EEB and CAN, identifies electricity interconnection as one of the most cost-effective routes to secure a stable renewable-based grid. Cross-border interconnectors can reduce the need for costly flexible technologies, such as storage systems and peaking power plants. Modelling from think tank Ember shows that Europe’s current interconnection capacity must double in order to maintain security of electricity supply, keep costs down and support the delivery of a clean power system.
Europe must double its current interconnection capacity over the next ten to fifteen years to deliver on its energy targets and the climate neutrality objective.
