From permits to grids at Europe’s biggest energy week

This week, Brussels was buzzing with all things clean and green as the 19th edition of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) took centre stage. Organised annually by the European Commission, EUSEW is the largest gathering in Europe dedicated to renewables and energy efficiency. Naturally, Eurelectric was in the thick of it, joining forces with key players to discuss everything from permitting bottlenecks to climate resilience.

Let’s take a look at the highlights of our week in the heart of Europe’s energy transition.

Fast-tracking renewables: it starts with permitting

The EU’s ambition is clear: 750 GW of solar and 425 GW of wind by 2030. But ambition alone won’t get the job done. One of the major hurdles? Permitting delays.

That’s why one of the most anticipated EUSEW sessions was the Implementation Dialogue on permitting hosted by Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen. Ahead of the dialogue, Eurelectric joined forces with SolarPower Europe and WindEurope in a joint statement urging the European Commission and Member States to:

1. Fully and practically implement the REDIII permitting reforms for renewables, grids, storage and flexibility assets.

2. Avoid reopening existing EU laws like REDIII and the Birds & Habitats Directives - stability is key to investor confidence.

3. Go beyond transposition: provide Member States with clear guidance, capacity-building support and dedicated funding.

We were encouraged to hear speakers echo the need to empower local authorities with the skills, staffing and resources to speed up project approvals. But there was another clear message: building out grid infrastructure is just as essential to deliver this renewable surge.

RES projects done right: a grid and nature perspective

Permits are only part of the puzzle. The grid’s ability to keep up with the renewables rollout is equally vital. That was the focus of a panel hosted by The Nature Conservancy, where our own Paul Wilczek, Head of Energy Policy, Climate and Sustainability, spoke on Renewable Acceleration Areas (RAAs).

While renewables reached record 48.18% share of EU electricity generation in 2024, aligning spatial planning with grid upgrades and nature restoration remains critical. It’s also an opportunity to boost social acceptance of projects - by working with communities, not against them.

Where’s the money? Funding the transition

Ambition and planning must be matched by investment. That’s where National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) come in. In the session “An energy union that delivers”, chaired by DG ENER’s Paula Abreu Marques, we explored how NECPs can guide public and private investment toward the EU’s post-2030 energy goals. These plans should offer not just targets, but clear investment pathways, identifying needs and funding sources.

With the Governance Regulation revision on the horizon for 2027, NECPs are set to become even more crucial in aligning ambition with action.

Smarter grids, greener impact

We can’t build the energy system of the future without expanding the grid - but we must do it sustainably. That’s why at EUSEW we built on our 2024 report on how to decarbonise distribution grids, with a dedicated session co-hosted with the Renewables Grid Initiative, spotlighting successful decarbonisation case studies from across the power sector.

Representing the different value chains were Enedis’ CSR Director, Eliza Mahdavy, Elia Group’s European Energy Policy Advisor, Lisa Schäfer, RGI’s Senior Manager of Energy and Policy Systems, Alexandros Fakas Kakouris and Europacable’s Senior Director of Public Affairs, Alberto Lampasona. During an exchange of best practices moderated by Savannah Altvater, panelists explored the environmental impact of grids, including on emissions and nature, and related mitigation strategies – a topic we covered in a report published last November. We also discussed the policy measures needed to foster resilient, sovereign supply chains that are equally affordable and cost-effective. Lastly, we emphasised the need for a smart regulation that supports long-term investment without sacrificing ecosystems or communities.

As the Commission prepares to propose its European Grids Package by the end of this year, these ideas are more relevant than ever.

Climate shocks: when the wind doesn’t blow

Lastly, EUSEW wasn’t just about future planning - it was also a reality check. What happens when renewables don’t deliver? Our Senior Advisor Mohammed Abi Afthab Olikathodi broke down the impact of the least sunny and windiest days of 2024 - and what they reveal about Europe's resilience, flexibility and market design.

During the session “Climate risk: how extreme weather impacts energy supply and prices”, hosted by the JRC and the European Commission, he shared some key findings from 11–14 Nov and 11–12 Dec, when Dunkelflaute triggered caused the following effects:

• Wind & solar generation plummeted (below 5% in Germany) pushing fossil generation up to over 75% of the daily mix (vs. annual average of 39%).

• Coal & gas production surged, with coal peaking at 450 GWh (vs. 288 GWh average) and gas at 430 GWh (vs. 146 GWh).

• Wholesale prices spiked to €936/MWh during the 17:00 peak on 12 Dec, driven by tight supply and high-cost backup capacity.

He pointed out that long-term contracts and flexibility can shield consumers from negative prices. Moreover, 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 (PPAs) and flexible demand can turn volatility into a business opportunity - but only if industry has access and incentives. Overall, to avoid future price shocks, we need to:

1. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 to stay on track with decarbonisation.

2. 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲: short- and long-duration capacity is essential.

3. 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻, 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆

4. 𝗨𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗱𝘀 & 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 to deliver clean power where it’s needed most.

Wrapping up: a week of energy, insight and action

EUSEW 2025 was a vibrant reminder of how far Europe has come - and how much more we need to do. From permitting to planning, from funding to flexibility, the path to a clean energy future is clearer, but still full of challenges.

At Eurelectric, we’re proud to stand with our partners to ensure that Europe’s energy transition is not just fast, but fair, sustainable and resilient. The work continues - see you on the grid!

This week’s edition’s written by:

Chiara Carminucci – Press & Media Relations Officer - Eurelectric

Other articles you might be interested in:

Disclaimer: This article is for communication purposes only and may not reflect Eurelectric positions. Any positions taken in this article shall not be attributable to Eurelectric’s official positioning. Official Eurelectric positions are reflected only in position papers published here.