European Commission proposes modernisation and expansion of EU energy grids

Brussels, 10 December (CTK correspondent) - The European Commission today proposed modernising and expanding the EU’s energy infrastructure to lower energy bills and strengthen the bloc’s energy independence. The Commission identified eight key energy projects and also wants to speed up permitting for grid infrastructure and renewable energy projects.

"If we want Europe to be competitive and independent, we need stronger energy infrastructure that is safer and better interconnected," Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said at a press conference in Brussels today.

Industrial energy prices in Europe are more than twice those in the United States and China, Reuters noted. The EU’s energy-intensive manufacturers say this is deterring investment on the continent.

The European Commission today therefore published legislative proposals intended to change the situation. They include shortening the time needed to approve energy projects across the EU in order to speed up the modernisation of energy grids.

"Taking the average project involving transmission grids, everything takes more than ten years, half of which is spent on the permitting process. We have to shorten that," Commissioner Jørgensen said.

For distribution grid projects, the permitting period would be set at two years, compared with current waiting times of up to ten years. If authorities failed to respond within the new deadlines, permits would be approved automatically.

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU, which represents the member states, will now consider the legislative proposals.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated in the European Parliament in September that the path to cheaper energy lies through renewables and that the EU must also build on nuclear energy. But she identified the outdated state of the grids as a problem; they have recently suffered outages, including the massive blackout in Spain.