Introduction

For the EU to achieve its energy, climate, and biodiversity targets, contributions from all sectors, including electricity grids, are essential. Infrastructure always has an impact on the environment it is built in, and beyond. Eurelectric’s 2024 report ‘Decarbonising Distribution’, shows that 54% of emissions for European Distribution System Operators stem from asset procurement. Emissions reduction, biodiversity protection and restoration, and resource optimisation, among others, require further attention. At the same time, EU’s path to net-zero necessitates robust electricity grids to be in place in a timely manner. The EU Action Plan for Grids estimates €584 billion in grid investments by 2030.  

Building on EU’s Competitiveness Compass and Clean Industrial Deal, and in an environment of strained supply chains, the session will explore what sustainability of grids entails, how the EU can enhance it, and how this aligns with the urgency to expand and modernise the grid, while supporting resilient supply chains and contributing to EU’s competitiveness.   

The session brings together actors across the value chain of electricity grids; grid operators across voltage levels, suppliers and policymakers to discuss ways to minimise environmental impacts of grids, alongside enabling requirements and good practices.