Penkova gets it – MEP’s report is an important step towards a genuinely European power grid

SupergridEurope warmly welcomes this morning’s report on the EU Grid Package revision of the Trans-European Networks for Energy Regulation (TEN-E).

The report of Tsvetelina Penkova, the European Parliament's lead MEP on the file, recognises a core truth – if Europe wants a secure and affordable electricity system, planning needs to start with a European perspective at its core. A deeply interconnected grid will ensure that all of Europe's citizens can reliably benefit from cheap wind, solar, hydro and storage.

Penkova’s report builds on the European Commission's original proposal that European grid planning should start with one common scenario. Her report goes further – Penkova would require new cross-border projects to explicitly show how they fill gaps in Europe's grid network, before they are approved.

The Bulgarian MEP has clearly gone through the Commission's proposal with a fine-tooth comb and has found subtle but crucial governance rules which need strengthening. For example, the report would give the European Commission more latitude to push back against ENTSO-E on its key 'infrastructure needs report'. And where TSO-proposed projects fall short of Europe's grid needs, the European Commission would now be obliged to quickly find alternatives to fill the gap.

Finally, the MEP correctly calls for 35% of congestion revenues from existing cross-border wires to be channelled to projects which expand capacity and relieve that congestion – up from the 25% proposed by the Commission.

Donagh Cagney, EU Policy Director of SupergridEurope said:

"Tsvetelina Penkova understands what's at stake – if we want secure, affordable and clean energy, we need to start planning and building as Europeans.

Once again, Europe is feeling the squeeze between geopolitical rivalry and fossil fuel chokepoints.

Accelerated electrification with affordable, homegrown renewable energy is the way out of this trap, but to deliver this we need a genuinely European power grid. Tsvetelina Penkova's report is a strong beginning to the European Parliament's work on this – we urge MEPs to swiftly adopt it and deliver, with the Council, an ambitious EU Grid Package Europe needs.”