A new report highlights how expanding cross-border electricity links across Europe could boost renewable generation by 27 TWh, reduce reliance on gas, and support climate targets amid grid congestion challenges.
Stronger electricity interconnection across Europe could unlock an extra 27TWh of renewable generation and help reduce emissions, according to Aurora Energy Research, which argues that the region’s power networks are struggling to keep pace with the pace of wind and solar build-out.
In its report, Europe’s Energy Trilemma Rewired: How Power Grid Investment Underpins Decarbonisation, Energy Security, and Affordability, Aurora said grid congestion is already forcing operators in some markets to curtail 5% to 10% of renewable output. It warned that, without faster grid expansion, curtailment volumes could double by 2030 in markets including Great Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy, increasing the risk that climate targets become harder and more expensive to meet.
The consultancy’s modelling suggests a 25% rise in cross-border interconnector capacity by 2040 would allow another 27TWh of solar and wind generation to flow through the system. That, in turn, could cut gas-fired generation by about 35TWh, or 8%, and avoid 16.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Aurora said congestion management volumes reached 72TWh in 2024, with countries such as Ireland and Poland forced to curtail renewable power because of network limits. Its report also warned that delaying investment would raise long-term system costs, with congestion costs in Great Britain projected to be seven times higher by 2060 in a delayed-investment scenario.
The findings come as European grid operators and regulators face mounting pressure to modernise transmission infrastructure. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre warned last year that, without better coordinated planning and grid expansion, as much as 310TWh of renewable generation could be curtailed by 2040 in a business-as-usual case. The Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators has separately said congestion management costs reached €4bn in 2023, while urging transmission system operators to make 70% of transmission capacity available for cross-border trading by the end of 2025.
Aurora’s report also lands against a backdrop of growing evidence that weak grid flexibility is already distorting power markets. Industry reporting showed Europe recorded a record number of negative day-ahead electricity prices in 2024, while more than 1,000GW of renewable projects were said to be waiting for grid connection. In some markets, permitting and connection delays have stretched for years, adding to the backlog.
Frederik Beelitz, head of advisory for the DACH region at Aurora Energy Research, said the electricity grid was central to Europe’s climate and energy goals. He said timely investment in infrastructure and cross-border links could unlock more renewable power, strengthen energy security and bring down emissions, while also helping to avoid the rising cost of congestion.
Maxine Ghavi, head of region Europe at Hitachi Energy, said resilient and interconnected grids were essential for secure, sustainable and affordable electricity supply, and argued that relevant technologies needed to be deployed quickly and at scale as Europe advances its energy transition.
For industrial power users, the message is clear: decarbonisation is no longer constrained only by generation capacity. It is increasingly limited by the ability of grids to move clean electricity where and when it is needed.
- https://www.renews.biz/other-news/grid/grid-upgrades-could-unlock-27twh-renewables/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://cms-production.auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/How-the-Power-Grid-Underpins-Energy-Security-Sustainability-Hitachi-and-Aurora-Energy-Research.pdf – Aurora Energy Research’s report, ‘Europe’s Energy Trilemma Rewired: How Power Grid Investment Underpins Decarbonisation, Energy Security, and Affordability’, highlights the critical role of the electricity grid in Europe’s energy transition. It reveals that 5-10% of renewable energy was curtailed in certain European markets in 2024 due to grid congestion. The report projects that without addressing the gap between renewable deployment and grid expansion, curtailment volumes could double by 2030 across Great Britain, Germany, Spain, and Italy, jeopardising climate targets. A 25% increase in cross-border interconnector capacity could unlock an additional 27 TWh of solar and wind generation by 2040, reducing gas-fired generation by approximately 35 TWh (8%) and avoiding 16.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. The report underscores the necessity for timely investment in grid infrastructure to enhance energy security, support decarbonisation, and maintain affordability.
- https://ses.jrc.ec.europa.eu/node/2699 – The Joint Research Centre’s 2024 report on ‘Redispatch and Congestion Management’ discusses the challenges posed by uncoordinated deployment of renewable energy in Europe. It warns that without proper grid expansion, up to 310 TWh of renewable generation could be curtailed by 2040 in a business-as-usual scenario. The report emphasises the need for coordinated planning to prevent grid congestion and ensure efficient integration of renewable energy sources into the power system.
- https://www.acer.europa.eu/monitoring/MMR/crosszonal_electricity_trade_capacities_2024 – The Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) 2024 Market Monitoring Report highlights the increasing congestion in the EU power grid, with congestion management costs reaching EUR 4 billion in 2023. The report notes that grid congestion limits member states’ progress in maximising cross-border electricity trade capacities, impeding further market integration. It calls for Transmission System Operators (TSOs) to meet their obligation of making 70% of transmission capacity available for cross-border electricity trading by the end of 2025.
- https://www.saurenergy.com/solar-energy-news/europe-curtails-over-10-twh-of-power-in-2024-1000-gw-renewables-stuck-in-grid-queues-10984193 – Saur Energy reports that in 2024, Europe experienced technical curtailment exceeding 10 TWh, with over 1,000 GW of renewable energy projects awaiting grid connection. The article highlights that permitting times have stretched up to a decade in some European markets, contributing to the growing backlog. It underscores the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the rapid expansion of renewable energy and prevent further curtailment.
- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/01/21/europe-posts-record-negative-power-prices-for-2024-as-renewables-rise/ – PV Magazine reports that in 2024, Europe recorded 4,838 instances of day-ahead power prices falling to zero or below, a record high driven by surging renewable generation, weak demand, and limited grid flexibility. The article notes that Finland led in negative pricing with 721 hours, primarily due to high wind production and low grid interconnectivity with Sweden and Estonia. This trend highlights the challenges of integrating increasing renewable energy into the grid without adequate infrastructure.
- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/01/15/negative-electricity-prices-and-grid-bottlenecks-in-europe-threaten-renewable-energy-targets/ – PV Magazine discusses how negative electricity prices and grid bottlenecks in Europe pose threats to renewable energy targets. Analysts at Aurora Energy Research expect installed wind and photovoltaic capacity in Europe to more than triple by 2050. However, they caution that issues such as negative electricity prices, cannibalisation effects on electricity prices, and grid bottlenecks could slow expansion, potentially preventing the achievement of European climate targets.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article references Aurora Energy Research’s report ‘Europe’s Energy Trilemma Rewired: How Power Grid Investment Underpins Decarbonisation, Energy Security, and Affordability’, published last week. ([cms-production.auroraer.com](https://cms-production.auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/How-the-Power-Grid-Underpins-Energy-Security-Sustainability-Hitachi-and-Aurora-Energy-Research.pdf?utm_source=openai)) The report’s recent publication suggests the article is based on fresh information. However, without access to the full report, it’s challenging to confirm the originality of the content. The report is available on Aurora’s official website.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Frederik Beelitz and Maxine Ghavi. A search for these quotes did not yield earlier appearances, indicating they may be original. However, without access to the full report, it’s difficult to verify the authenticity of these quotes. The report is available on Aurora’s official website.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The article cites Aurora Energy Research, a reputable organisation known for its expertise in energy market analysis. Aurora’s official website provides access to their reports and publications. ([auroraer.com](https://auroraer.com/?utm_source=openai))
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about grid congestion and the potential benefits of increased interconnection capacity align with known challenges in Europe’s energy infrastructure. The report’s findings are consistent with industry discussions on the need for grid upgrades to accommodate renewable energy. ([cms-production.auroraer.com](https://cms-production.auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/How-the-Power-Grid-Underpins-Energy-Security-Sustainability-Hitachi-and-Aurora-Energy-Research.pdf?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article is based on Aurora Energy Research’s recent report, which is accessible without paywall restrictions. The content aligns with known industry challenges and includes direct quotes from Aurora’s representatives. However, the lack of independent verification from other sources raises some concerns. The report is available on Aurora’s official website. ([cms-production.auroraer.com](https://cms-production.auroraer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/How-the-Power-Grid-Underpins-Energy-Security-Sustainability-Hitachi-and-Aurora-Energy-Research.pdf?utm_source=openai))
