European Commission: Response to the consultation on the European Innovation Act

In our response to the European Commission’s consultation on the European Innovation Act (expected in Q1 2026), SupergridEurope emphasises the crucial role of innovation in developing a European electricity grid to unlock affordable, indigenous and clean energy.  

“Free, uninterrupted movement of electrons across Europe's internal and external borders, is a precondition for affordable energy and European competitiveness. Innovative and potentially disruptive electricity transmission technologies if fully developed, scaled and deployed in Europe would provide resilient infrastructure for a European energy system, that can unlock a true internal market.” said Christian Kjaer, Executive Director of SupergridEurope. 

Funding, large-scale demonstration and regulatory support for grid innovation remain insufficient to match the scale of the challenge. SupergridEurope agrees with the European  Parliament which, in its resolution of 19 June 2025 - Electricity Grids: The Backbone of the EU Energy System "Deeply regrets that, whereas regional funds such as the Cohesion Fund, the European Regional Development Fund or the Recovery and Resilience Facility provide for grid investments in principle, in practice they are underutilised for grid projects". 

SupergridEurope strongly supports the call from the European Parliament in support of greater support for grid technology innovation support. No innovative electricity grid technology has ever received funding under the EU Innovation Fund. The eligibility criteria of some calls, especially associated with past and current EU ETS Innovation Fund calls, inadvertently disqualifies enabling technologies such as innovative grid technologies.  

Often there are no incentives for distribution and transmission system operators to demonstrate and apply innovative technologies, even those that can demonstrate positive economic, environmental and circularity benefits. New, innovative products are sometimes unjustly perceived as a risk to security of supply, because applying them deviates from business as usual. 

This perception can often be overcome by a wider use of digitally aided procedures and technologies, such as hardware in the loop demos and digital twins. Ensuring availability and funding for such approaches to evolve, should be considered in connection with developing regulatory sandboxes for grid technology scaling and demonstration. 

Read SupergridEurope’s position paper on the European Innovation act here. 

Read SupergridEurope’s full response the European Commission’s consultation on the European Innovation Act here.

Read the European Commission’s call for evidence and public consultation here.  

For further information, please contact:   

 Aoife Cronin, Communications Officer - aoifecronin@supergrideurope.eu | +353 85 283 7150