SMART GRIDS

Electricity grids remain bedevilled by infrastructural challenges – but companies are rising to the digitalisation challenge

round one-third of Europe ’ s electricity grids are more than 40 years old – and this figure is likely to pass 50 % by the time 2030 rolls around .

The European Ten-Year Network Development Plan 2020 forecasts a total CAPEX of € 123bn until 2030 for transmission and storage projects . In addition , European distribution grids will need investments of € 375-425bn until 2030 .

Clearly , the need for smart , digitaloriented electricity grid systems has never been higher – particularly in an age when decarbonisation is as pressing as efficiency .

According to EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson , between now and 2030 , investments in electricity grids will have to double to match sustainability demands , reaching more than € 50bn per year .

And the situation across the Atlantic isn ’ t much better : the US grid is older than Europe ’ s , and the average age of the installed base is 40 years old , with more than a quarter of the grid being at least 50 years old .

WRITTEN BY : DOMINIC ELLIS

78 June 2022