Copyright

Antonella Battaglini; Catharina Sikow-Magny

Published On

2025-12-08

Page Range

pp. 143–156

Language

  • English

Print Length

14 pages

9. On Grids

The Backbone of the Energy Transition

Chapter of: More with More: Investing in the Energy Transition: 2025 European Public Investment Outlook(pp. 143–156)
This chapter examines the central role of electricity grids in Europe’s energy transition toward climate neutrality, energy security, and sustainability. Historically overlooked, electricity infrastructure has now emerged as a critical enabler of decarbonization, enabling the integration of renewable energy, electrification of end-use sectors, and cross-border power flows. The study analyzes EU regulatory frameworks—especially the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E)—and identifies key investment needs, flexibility technologies, and optimization strategies. It argues for a shift toward integrated, demand-cum-supply planning to ensure cost-effective, resilient, and environmentally responsible grid development. The 2025 Iberian blackout highlights the risks of underinvestment and inflexibility (Financial Times 2025; ENTSO-E 2025; REE and REN 2025). The chapter also stresses the importance of public engagement, regional cooperation, and cross-sectoral coordination to unlock local benefits and accelerate permitting. Policy recommendations focus on improving cost-benefit analysis, recognizing distributed assets, and aligning investment with long-term system value. It concludes that well-designed grids are the backbone of a just, secure, and efficient European energy transition.

Contributors

Antonella Battaglini

(author)

Antonella Battaglini is the CEO and founder of the Renewables Grid Initiative—RGI (https://renewables-grid.eu), established in 2009. Under her leadership, RGI has become a pioneering collaboration between NGOs and transmission system operators (TSOs) across Europe, driving transparent and environmentally responsible grid development to accelerate the integration of renewable energy and the energy transition. Beyond RGI, Antonella has contributed her expertise as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council (https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-future-council/) on Clean Electrification and the European Commission’s Interconnection Target Group. She also spent many years as a Senior Scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research—PIK (https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/), where she deepened her engagement with climate and energy issues.

Katharina Sikow-Magny

(author)
Part-time Professor; European Coordinator; Adjunct Professor at European University Institute
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6893-9259

Katharina Sikow-Magny is part-time Professor at Florence School of Regulation at European University Institute since 2024, European Coordinator for the Baltic synchronization project since 2025, and Adjunct Professor at Copenhagen School of Energy Infrastructure since 2025. In addition, she cooperates with several organizations dealing with energy policy and transition. Until 2024, Catharina worked at the European Commission where she held various positions since 1997, including Director responsible for Green Transition and Energy System Integration, Head of Unit in charge of Consumers, Local Initiatives, Just Transition and Head of Unit responsible for Networks and Regional Initiatives at the Directorate General for Energy. She has also worked on international transport, trans-European network policy and financing, internalization of external costs, and strategic policy research. Before joining the Commission, Catharina was a team leader and chief economist in the private sector in Finland. She has also worked for the United Nations Development Programme in Portau-Prince, Haiti. She holds a Master’s in Economics from the Aalto University, Finland.