To facilitate the energy transition and enable cross-border trade flows, Europe’s policy ambitions continue to promote higher interconnection levels and more efficient use of available capacity. Looking forward to 2030 and beyond, the continuing shift in the energy ecosystem highlights several challenges that require urgent consideration by system planners of transmission system operators (TSOs) and authorities.

The developments in decarbonisation, decentralisation and digitalisation — combined with the overarching goals of a reliable, secure and affordable energy system — bring specific threats and opportunities.