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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.

TEN-E 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. 

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.

Dedicated offshore grid planning provisions, introduced by the revised regulation, enable EU countries’ offshore renewable ambitions by supporting the scaling up of necessary offshore grid projects. 

Natural (fossil) gas projects will no longer be granted PCI or PMI status, but support for hydrogen, electrolysers and local low-carbon and renewable gas projects will be included, as well as an obligation for all projects to meet mandatory sustainability criteria. 

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. 

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

European Grids Package

Given the critical role of grids for integrating affordable renewable energy and supporting electrification, a European Grids Package, foreseen for publication by the end of 2025, was announced as part of the Competitiveness Compass for the EU and the Clean Industrial Deal

A European Grid Action Plan

As part of the European Green Deal, the Commission published a Grid Action Plan (COM/2023/757) in November 2023.

It highlighted that electricity consumption in the EU is expected to increase by around 60% by 2030. Our networks therefore have to become more digitalised, decentralised and flexible. 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.

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.

The actions focus on 7 areas

  • accelerating the implementation of Projects of Common Interest and developing new projects
  • improving long-term grid planning for a higher share of renewables and increased electrification
  • introducing regulatory incentives for forward-looking grid build-out
  • incentivising a better usage of the grids
  • improving access to finance
  • accelerating deployment through faster permitting and public engagement
  • strengthening grid supply chains

Guidance on anticipatory investments

On 2 June 2025, the Commission presented a Guidance document on anticipatory investments for developing forward-looking electricity networks, replying to actions in both the Grid Action Plan and the Action Plan for Affordable Energy.

The document addresses EU countries, national regulatory authorities and transmission and distribution system operators. It offers concrete recommendations on network planning, regulatory scrutiny and costs and incentives to help them create the right conditions so that grid investments reflect future needs, while also ensuring affordability for consumers and the competitiveness of industry.

Documents

  • 15 DECEMBER 2022
Achievements of the European energy infrastructure policy

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