Europe faces grid bottleneck as €100 billion in renewable projects await connection
Nearly 830 gigawatts of renewable energy and battery storage projects worth an estimated €100 billion ($116.5 billion) are awaiting grid connections across eight European countries, highlighting a major obstacle to the region’s clean energy transition, according to a new report.
The study, prepared by consulting firm AFRY for Beyond Fossil Fuels, found that 375 GW of renewable energy projects and 455 GW of storage capacity are stuck in connection queues in Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The backlog is roughly equivalent to 98% of Europe’s existing coal- and gas-fired power generation capacity, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing the continent’s energy sector.
Distribution networks struggle to keep pace
Researchers said distribution system operators are struggling to connect new renewable and storage projects quickly enough, with outdated infrastructure and regulatory hurdles slowing deployment.
The report highlighted grid digitalization, improved planning and regulatory reforms as key steps needed to accelerate connections and reduce delays.
Battery storage projects have been particularly affected, despite their growing role in balancing electricity systems increasingly reliant on wind and solar generation. The report noted that while the European Union’s battery fleet has expanded tenfold since 2021 to more than 77 gigawatt-hours, substantial capacity remains trapped in grid queues.
In Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland, battery storage projects awaiting connection already exceed more than twice those countries’ 2030 storage targets.
Delays raise concerns over energy transition
Duygu Kutluay said grid bottlenecks are slowing the shift to clean energy, increasing costs for consumers and weakening Europe’s energy security.
She also pointed to similar challenges in Türkiye, where regulatory uncertainty and limited connection capacity are delaying renewable energy and battery storage investments despite strong growth potential.
Chiara Natalicchio said transmission and distribution networks are becoming increasingly important as electricity systems grow more electrified, decentralized and dependent on variable renewable energy sources.
The report warns that without faster grid expansion and reforms, Europe risks slowing progress toward its climate and energy goals despite strong investment in renewable generation.
Source:turkiyetoday
