There is no doubt that the rapid adoption of new renewable technologies , such as electric vehicles and heat pumps, is exponentially increasing the importance of electricity grids worldwide. Countries are adding clean energy projects at a rapid pace, requiring more high-capacity power lines to connect them and ensure a reliable supply for end users. Based on this premise, the International Energy Agency (IEA) published a new special report, "Electricity Grids and Secure Energy Transitions," which offers a unique assessment of the current state of grids globally. According to the Agency, infrastructure investment is not keeping pace with the new energy economy.
Therefore, it warns of the risk that these same grids could become a bottleneck for efforts to accelerate the transition to clean energy and ensure electricity security. "The special report examines the urgent improvements required not only in the physical infrastructure but also in how grids are planned and managed , quantifying the costs of delayed action," details the report's summary. "And it provides key recommendations for policymakers, highlighting what is needed in areas such as investment, regulation, and planning," it adds. In this regard, Faith Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, posted on her social media that, according to the report, meeting energy and climate goals requires adding or replacing 80 million kilometers of power lines by 2040. This is an ambitious target, considering that it represents the size of the entire global grid built in the last 100 years. “ Our analysis shows a tailback of late-stage renewable energy projects (worth around 1,500 GW) waiting to be connected to the grid in key markets,” explains Birol. He adds, “If grid investments don’t ramp up quickly and regulatory reforms are slow, the result will be slower renewable energy growth, increased fossil fuel use, and stronger global warming. This would mean almost 60 billion tons of additional CO2 emissions between 2030 and 2050.” Thus, the expert emphasizes the need for immediate action on grid infrastructure. This is because, while renewable projects can be developed in a matter of months or years, grid infrastructure development can take a decade or more. The measures proposed by the IEA, according to the analysis, include significant changes in how grids operate and are regulated, while annual investment in grids, which has remained virtually stagnant, must double to more than $600 billion per year by 2030. "Improving and expanding grid infrastructure in countries around the world will require stronger international collaboration. Emerging and developing economies, excluding China, have experienced a decline in grid investment in recent years, despite robust growth in electricity demand and ongoing efforts to meet energy access targets," the document warns. In this regard, Dr.
Birol emphasizes: “Ensuring the developing world has the resources it needs to build and modernize electricity grids is an essential task for the international community. By mobilizing financing, providing access to technology, and sharing best policy practices, leading economies can help improve people’s lives, strengthen sustainable development, and reduce the risks of climate change.” Among the strategic actions proposed by the IEA that can make a difference is expanding and strengthening grid interconnections within countries, between countries, and between regions to make electricity systems more resilient and enable them to better integrate the increasing proportions of solar and wind power .
To achieve this, the report recommends that governments support large-scale transmission projects to ensure that grids are prepared for further strong growth in renewable energy and urges developers and grid operators to embrace digitalization to enable future grids to be more resilient and flexible.