Ael c Spain"s Association of Electric Power Companies, representing the country"s largest utilities warned that meeting Europe"s energy-transition targets will be impossible without urgent investment in electricity distribution grids.
The message was delivered during its forum "Generating Energy: Key Insights for the Future, held at the energy fair Genera 2025, where stakeholders from the renewable energy, digital infrastructure and industrial sectors discussed how to secure a fully electrified economy.
According to estimates presented at the event, the system will require between 4.5 billion and 6.3 billion per year in distribution-grid investment through 2030 to support large-scale renewable energy deployment, electric mobility, energy storage and the rapid growth of data-center demand.
The power sector is undergoing an unprecedented transformation driven by two simultaneous trends: the massive penetration of distributed energy resources, which demands far more complex and digitalized grid operation, and a historic surge in electricity demand reflected in the increase of grid access and connection requests.
Marina Serrano, President of Ael c, opened the event by stressing that the country is at a "critical moment" for the success of the energy transition.
Consultants from EY and IIT then presented a long-term outlook showing that electricity demand could grow 33% to 54% between 2025 and 2030, driven by industrial electrification, electric vehicles and high-consumption digital infrastructure such as data centers.
Investment needs are aligned with limits proposed in the latest draft Royal Decree on grid remuneration.
The first discussion panel brought together industrial consumers and data-center operators, who emphasized that delays in distribution-grid access and connection directly affect competitiveness.
Distribution companies highlighted that electrification will only be feasible with urgent capacity reinforcements and accelerated digitalization.
They stressed that over 80% of distribution nodes are already saturated, and that without a regulatory framework aligned with real investment requirements, the system will not be able to integrate new industrial loads, storage systems, distributed generation or EV charging points.
They also called for faster planning, the removal of administrative bottlenecks, and mechanisms to prioritize access requests based on system value.
A second panel focused on the need to enhance security of supply to maintain the pace of renewable-energy growth.
Storage providers, distributors, renewable generators and representatives from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition agreed on the urgency of improving voltage-control capabilities and ensuring safe and efficient system operation.
They emphasized the need for renewable assets to provide dynamic voltage support, for stronger balancing services in the short term, and for greater system flexibility and firm capacity in the medium and long term.
Participants also underlined the importance of advancing toward a capacity market that complements the energy market and provides long-term investment signals.
Industry associations stressed that the lack of capacity markets is slowing storage deployment and that permitting processes must accelerate.
Distribution-sector representatives added that safely integrating the country"s large pipeline of renewable projects requires both physical grid upgrades and advanced digital capabilities, which improve grid visibility and enable flexibility services from utilities and end users.
Ael c concluded by noting that implementing the new Operational Procedure 7.4 without delay is essential for allowing renewable generation to contribute actively to system stability.
Ensuring compliance with the operator"s voltage-control planning is also key to minimizing the need for "reinforced operation," which increases system costs and limits renewable-energy integration.
The event closed with broad consensus: coordinated dialogue among utilities, regulators, industrial consumers, data-center operators, storage providers and renewable developers is indispensable for building a competitive, secure and resilient energy-transition pathway.
Key Data Overview Indicator Value / Insight Notes Annual grid-investment need 4.5 6.3 billion Required through 2030 Electricity-demand growth +33% to +54% (2025 2030) Driven by industry, EVs and data centers Saturated distribution nodes >80% Major bottleneck for new loads and renewables Short-term priority Balancing services To safeguard system stability Long-term requirement Capacity-market design To ensure firm capacity and attract investment