The power of European electricity grids RGI’s policy priorities for the EU 2024-2029 mandate

The Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) acknowledges that the new EU mandate is crucial for the future of the European Union (EU) and its Member States. With the legislative term ending in 2029, the decisions taken in the coming five years will be catalytic for the EU’s pathway to net-zero, and the achievement of the EU and global climate, energy and biodiversity commitments.

Electricity grids should remain at the top of the political agenda as the enablers of the energy transition. There is a broad consensus on the need to scale up the deployment of electricity grids at all voltage levels, to sustain and enable the pace and magnitude of investments in generation and storage assets for renewables across the EU; a momentum that needs to be maintained. Indeed, electricity grids enable electrification as well as renewables and market integration, thus putting Europe on track towards a timely and cost-efficient energy transition, boosting energy security, EU competitiveness and allowing societies and industries to leverage its multifold benefits.

In the past years, the EU has adopted a comprehensive set of policies to accelerate the transition to net-zero. However, a large piece of work still lies ahead; while new, effective policies and actions will be needed to further support the pathway to climate neutrality latest by 2050, the implementation of already agreed policy files will be key to EU’s efforts to decarbonise and speed-up renewable energy sources (RES) and electricity grid development. For this to happen in an efficient and timely manner, the EU should adopt a holistic approach that tackles jointly the intertwined climate, energy, biodiversity crises, that encompasses economic factors, and positions societal considerations at the centre of policy discussions.

We, RGI together with our Members, therefore urge EU policymakers, i.e., the European Parliament, European Commission and Member States, to:

1. Prioritise renewables-based direct electrification
2. Ensure adequate financial resources
3. Adopt a holistic approach in policymaking and implementation
4. Ensure well-functioning and sustainable supply chains
5. Ensure a nature-positive energy transition
6. Accelerate the energy transition and electricity grid development through societal acceptance