National grid connection processes must be urgently reformed to clear massive backlogs of energy projects and ensure that viable clean power plants can actually reach the market. According to the authors of the newly released report, failing to fix these administrative hurdles risks leaving hundreds of gigawatts of renewable energy stuck in queues, undermining Europe’s energy security and economic competitiveness.
“National reforms to grid connection processes are needed to clear backlogs, clear out speculative or duplicate projects and move viable projects to the front of the line.” The report further notes that “in several cases, the pipeline of committed projects is larger than existing generation capacity.”
Currently, too many energy projects are waiting for permission to connect to the electricity network, creating a traffic jam that blocks real progress. Some of these projects are just placeholders that might never be built, but they are still taking up space and time in the system. By changing how these applications are handled, officials can remove the projects that are not real and give priority to those that are ready to provide power, making the whole system faster and more efficient.
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.
