European Grid Interconnection Upgrades Could Unlock 27 TWh of Renewable Energy

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Aurora Energy Research, in its report "Rewiring Europe's Energy Trilemma: How Grid Investment Supports Decarbonization, Energy Security, and Affordability," points out that strengthening European grid interconnections could unlock 27 terawatt-hours (TWh) of renewable energy generation and reduce emissions.

The report shows that in 2024, some European markets curtailed 5% to 10% of renewable energy due to grid congestion. A 25% increase in cross-border interconnection capacity could add an additional 27 TWh of solar and wind power generation by 2040, which would reduce natural gas generation by approximately 35 TWh (8%) and avoid 16.3 million tons of CO2 emissions.

Aurora's model further indicates that if the gap between renewable energy deployment and grid expansion is not addressed, curtailment in the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy could double by 2030, jeopardizing climate targets.

Grid congestion management reached 72 TWh in 2024, with countries including Ireland and Poland curtailing renewable energy output due to network constraints. Delays in grid investment could significantly increase long-term system costs; under a delayed scenario, congestion costs in the UK are expected to increase sevenfold by 2060.

Frederik Beelitz, Head of Consulting for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at Aurora Energy Research, stated that the grid is a key driver of Europe's climate and energy goals. Timely investment in grid infrastructure and cross-border interconnections can significantly unlock more renewable energy, improve power security, and reduce emissions. Delayed investment could make the transition more expensive and difficult to achieve, while also leading to rising congestion and inefficiency costs in the power system.

Maxine Ghavi, Head of Europe at Hitachi Energy, stated that a resilient, interconnected, and flexible grid is the backbone of a secure, sustainable, and affordable electricity supply, which is crucial for driving the economy and safeguarding society. As Europe continues to advance its energy transition and address the energy trilemma in a balanced manner, it is important to deploy relevant technologies with speed and scale.

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