Europe’s transmission system operators (TSOs) are unprepared to respond to the energy transformation required to meet 2030 climate goals. This is according to a report presented by Beyond Fossil Fuels, in collaboration with E3G, Ember, and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), which analyzed the practices and plans of 32 TSOs in 28 countries. The study concludes that European electricity grids continue to be one of the main bottlenecks for the deployment of clean energy, with 1,700 GW of renewable capacity stuck in connection queues, i.e., waiting to be integrated into the system. This figure represents more than three times what is needed to meet the European Union’s 2030 climate and energy goals.

The report notes that €7.2 billion in renewable generation was cut in 2024 in just seven European countries due to grid capacity constraints. This situation not only paralyzes multi-million-dollar investments but also compromises the continent’s energy security by maintaining a heavy dependence on fossil fuels. “Europe needs a great grid build-out to scale up homegrown renewables, drive economic growth, and break free from risky fossil fuel markets,” says Juliet Phillips, campaigner for Beyond Fossil Fuels.

Despite this context, most European TSOs still project a significant share of gas in their scenarios through 2035, which contradicts decarbonization goals. Only five operators model a fully renewable system by that date, and only 13 have specific climate commitments or targets incorporated into their roadmaps. This gap between climate urgency and infrastructure planning has led the organization to issue a series of concrete recommendations to national governments.

Among these, the report highlights the need to review the legal mandates of TSOs and energy regulators to ensure they are aligned with climate goals, as well as to create fully independent public bodies for grid planning, capable of avoiding conflicts of interest and adopting a long-term vision. In this regard, the report points to the United Kingdom as an example, where the National Energy System Operator (NESO) was established as an autonomous entity responsible for systemic planning, separate from the grid operator National Grid.

Also highlighted is the case of Poland, where market reforms implemented in 2024 have allowed for the incorporation of demand flexibility signals through new tariffs, and where storage is benefiting from fossil technologies thanks to capacity contracts. Denmark, meanwhile, has enabled more than 550 organizations—including swimming pools, kindergartens, ice rinks, and heavy industrial sectors—to participate in grid balancing, thanks to reforms driven by the operator Energinet. “Thanks to reforms by TSO Energinet, 550 organizations offer grid services and are benefiting from more business opportunities and a balanced market,” the report highlights.

The document insists that the key to a clean, secure, and affordable energy system is to increase storage capacity, manage demand flexibly, and prioritize connecting renewable projects that are already operational. To achieve this, TSOs must adopt best practices and assume a more active responsibility in the energy transformation. “Providing a climate mandate to TSOs and their regulators can ensure they make the long-term investments and decisions needed to future-proof our energy system,” warns Phillips.

The warning is clear: without a rapid, planned, and sustainable expansion of the electricity grid, Europe will not be able to meet its climate commitments, harness the economic potential of renewable energy, or reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels. The energy transition is poised to move forward, but electricity grids have yet to catch up.