- EU’s energy plan to revamp old infrastructure for rising renewable energy demand.
- The plan anticipates a 60% power demand surge by 2030 due to industry growth, EVs, and hydrogen.
European Union energy commissioner Kadri Simson unveiled a plan to overhaul the bloc’s 40-year-old electricity infrastructure for the rising demand for renewable energy. The plan includes more offshore wind farms, solar plants, and upcoming projects. EU expects a 60 per cent surge in power demand by 2030 due to industrial growth, more home heating, increased electric vehicle use, and growing interest in hydrogen.
The plan focuses on making networks decentralised, digitised, and flexible to handle variable renewable power. EU plans to integrate many rooftop solar panels and support local energy communities. The EU aims to double cross-border infrastructure among member states in seven years, with an investment of 584 billion euros ($637 billion) for upgrades by 2030, initially adding 23 GW by 2025. One hundred sixty-six new projects of common interest (PCI) will focus on electricity, hydrogen, energy storage facilities, and offshore projects in the North Seas, Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic.
Leonhard Birnbaum, president of Eurelectric, praised the plan but highlighted the need to address threats from more frequent extreme weather events and climate adaptation. Implementation starts in 18 months, emphasising stakeholder collaboration and standardisation among power distribution companies to avoid redundant innovations.