The EU is pushing forward with an additional 89 gigawatts of renewable capacity in 2025 alone, mostly solar, in hopes of hitting its 2030 climate targets. But windless days in the north and sunless nights in the south have left experts warning that without better grid connectivity, Europe's clean energy ambitions may falter under their own weight.
A European supergrid—essentially a high-voltage network linking national systems from Ireland to Türkiye—could offer both balance and backup. It would allow surplus renewable energy to flow where it's needed most, reducing reliance on gas imports and smoothing out the peaks and valleys of wind and solar.
"Green power is uneven," said Michael Ashley Schulman, CIO of Running Point Capital Advisors. "You need to connect the dots—from wind in the North Sea to solar in the Mediterranean—if you want stability."
But stitching together dozens of national grids isn't just a technical challenge; it's a political gauntlet. Sovereignty fears, public resistance to new infrastructure, and incompatible regulations have slowed progress for more than a decade.
What would a supergrid fix—and what wouldn't it?
The benefits of cross-border interconnection are clear: lower electricity prices, stronger resilience against outages, and a faster path to ditching fossil fuels. Offshore wind integration, in particular, could accelerate under shared infrastructure.
Small-scale versions of this concept are already underway. Countries like France, Germany and the UK are developing "mini-supergrids" using high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology. Experts say a supergrid might eventually emerge, not as a single monolith, but as a patchwork of modular, expandable links—much like Europe's motorway system in the 20th century.
But others caution against relying too heavily on large-scale solutions.
"A supergrid must serve more than markets. It must respect ecological limits and social equity," said Dr. Therese Guttmann of the Vienna University of Economics and Business. "Otherwise, we risk replacing fossil lock-in with centralised, green extractivism."
Climate resilience—or vulnerability?
Climate change is pushing Europe's energy system to its limits. Droughts, floods, and heatwaves are battering infrastructure and disrupting power flows. The European Commission estimates €584 billion in grid investments are needed by 2030 just to stay on track.
A supergrid could boost flexibility and redundancy, helping countries lean on each other in times of crisis. But it could also make them vulnerable to cascading failures and cyberattacks.
"The Iberian blackout was a warning," Schulman said. "Done right, a supergrid increases resilience. Done poorly, it spreads risk across an entire continent."
What's holding the supergrid back?
Permitting delays, regulatory misalignment, and cost-sharing disputes remain the biggest obstacles. Some member states are wary of ceding energy control to EU-wide mechanisms. Others worry about the optics and logistics of new transmission lines cutting across local communities.
Public backlash is another factor. Infrastructure projects are often met with NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) resistance—especially when residents see little local benefit.
"There's a reason this remains more of a PowerPoint dream than reality," Schulman quipped. "What Europe needs isn't just cable. It needs political courage, big wallets, and a willingness to think beyond borders."
The road ahead
Most experts agree: a supergrid, if designed with foresight and inclusivity, could be a vital part of Europe's energy transition. But it is not a silver bullet. Decentralised energy, local storage, and smarter grids will be equally important.
"Without long-term thinking and bold investment, the energy transition risks grinding to a halt," warned Alexandros Kakouris of the Renewables Grid Initiative. "But urgency cannot justify reckless expansion."
In the end, Europe's grid challenge is not merely technical—it's moral, political and economic. The question is no longer just how to build a supergrid, but how to ensure it serves people, planet, and justice in equal measure.