Several European nations are struggling with severe power grid limitations that threaten to stall their transition to clean energy, according to the authors of the newly released report. Austria, Bulgaria, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia are identified as having the most significant constraints, with current infrastructure able to support only a small fraction of the renewable energy projects planned for the end of the decade.
The report states that “The biggest constraints are in Austria, Bulgaria, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Slovakia” and notes that “In these countries, available grid capacity can accommodate less than 10% of renewables planned by 2030.”
In simple terms, while these countries have ambitious plans to build new wind and solar farms, the physical wires and stations needed to carry that electricity are currently full. This means that for every ten green energy projects intended to provide power to homes and businesses, nine could end up stuck in a long waiting list because the local electrical system simply does not have the room to plug them in.
The report “Crossed wires: Grid capacity could block EU energy security” was published by the energy think tank Ember on 1 April 2026. It was prepared by a research team led by Senior Energy Analyst Elisabeth Cremona.
