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Energy

Trans-European Networks for Energy

EU policy for planning cross-border energy infrastructure. 

Energy infrastructure is key to achieving the EU’s energy and climate objectives at the lowest cost. Interconnected infrastructure helps guarantee security of energy supply, thus keeping prices in check, and is essential for integrating the increasing share of renewable energy sources into the EU’s energy system. 

The Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) policy is a long-standing EU instrument for connecting EU countries’ energy networks, strengthening cohesion and developing solidarity and cooperation across the EU.

Revised rules

The revised TEN-E Regulation (EU/2022/869) entered into force in June 2022. It enhances the EU’s energy infrastructure policy and aligns it with the objectives of the European Green Deal, enabling investments to help achieve a climate-neutral energy mix by 2050. It introduces

  • new and updated energy infrastructure categories and a reconfiguration of priority corridors and areas
  • dedicated offshore grid planning provisions enabling EU countries’ offshore renewable ambitions by supporting the scaling up of necessary offshore grid projects
  • no natural (fossil) gas projects, but support for hydrogen, electrolysers and local low-carbon and renewable gases
  • an obligation for all projects to meet mandatory sustainability criteria
  • enhanced regulatory and permitting provisions to accelerate Project of Common Interest and Project of Mutual Interest (PCI and PMI) implementation
  • strengthened cross-sectoral energy infrastructure planning
  • Projects of Mutual Interest between EU countries and countries outside the EU

The preparatory work on the revision drew its evidence from a support study published in 2021 and an extensive consultation process seeking input from specialists, stakeholders and the public. It included a public consultation and 4 stakeholder webinars in 2020. In 2022, the Commission organised a series of webinars to present the new provisions.  

TEN-E main benefits 

Security of energy supply, a main driver behind the regulation’s introduction, has been significantly improved since 2013 thanks to the implementation of key projects across Europe. The EU has achieved a well-interconnected and shock-resilient gas grid and all EU countries will have access to at least 3 gas sources, or the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. 

In addition to offering an effective and cost-efficient approach to infrastructure planning, the regulation improves permitting procedures for energy infrastructure projects. It requires EU countries to ensure a streamlined permit-granting process for PCIs and PMIs within a timeframe of 3 and a half years. They are to receive the highest national priority status and be included in national network development plans.

The regulation also provides for regulatory assistance, rules and guidance for the cross-border allocation of costs and risk-related incentives, and provides access to financing opportunities from the Connecting Europe Facility.

Priority corridors and thematic areas

To ensure the most relevant and pressing infrastructure needs are considered when selecting the Projects of Common and Mutual Interest (PCIs and PMIs), the TEN-E policy builds on the strengths of regional cooperation and focuses on 11 priority geographical corridors covering

  • electricity
  • offshore grids
  • hydrogen and electrolysers infrastructure development 

and 3 priority thematic areas covering 

  • smart electricity grids
  • smart gas grids
  • CO2 networks

PCIs in priority corridors and thematic areas

A European Grid Action Plan

Interconnected and stable energy networks are the backbone of the EU's internal energy market and key to enable the clean energy transition. To help deliver the European Green Deal the Commission published a Grid Action Plan (COM/2023/757) in November 2023 with a list of actions to ensure that our cross-border and local European electricity grids will operate more efficiently and will be rolled out further and faster.

With the revised TEN-E Regulation, the Commission has already put in place a supportive legal framework for the rollout of electricity grids across Europe. 

However, electricity consumption in the EU is expected to increase by around 60% between now and 2030, so networks will have to become more digitalised, decentralised and flexible, with millions of rooftop solar panels, heat pumps and local energy communities sharing their resources, more offshore renewables coming online, more electric vehicles to charge, and growing hydrogen production needs. With 40% of our distribution grids being over 40 years old, and cross-border transmission capacity due to double by 2030, €584 billion in investments are necessary.

Key facts

60%
expected increase of electricity consumption
40%
of EU distribution grids are over 40 years old
€584 billion
needed to invest in EU grids

Targeting the missing links of the clean energy transition

The Action Plan identifies concrete and tailor-made actions to help unlock the investment required to get European electricity grids up to speed. It focuses on implementation and swift delivery, so that the actions can make a difference in time to contribute to our 2030 objectives

  • accelerating the implementation of Projects of Common Interest and developing new projects through political steering, reinforced monitoring and more proposals
  • improving the long-term planning of grids to accommodate more renewables and electrified demand, including hydrogen, in the energy system by steering the work of system operators as well as national regulators
  • introducing regulatory incentives through guidance on anticipatory, forward-looking investments and on cross-border cost sharing for offshore projects
  • incentivising a better usage of the grids with enhanced transparency and improved network tariffs for smarter grids, efficiency, and innovative technologies and solutions by supporting the cooperation between system operators and recommendations by the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)
  • improving access to finance for grids projects by increasing visibility on opportunities for EU funding programmes, especially for smart grids and modernisation of distribution grids
  • stimulating faster permitting for grids deployment by providing technical support for authorities and a pact on better engaging stakeholders and communities
  • improving and securing grid supply chains, including by harmonising industry manufacturing requirements for generation and demand connection

Documents

Regional offshore grids agreements:

  • 20 JANUARY 2023
NSOG non-binding offshore goals final
  • 20 JANUARY 2023
BEMIP non-binding offshore goals
  • 20 JANUARY 2023
SW offshore non-binding offshore goals final
  • 20 JANUARY 2023
Atlantic non-binding offshore goals final
  • 20 JANUARY 2023
SE offshore non-binding offshore goals final
  • 15 DECEMBER 2022
Achievements of the European energy infrastructure policy

Related links