ACER says European grid investment rose 155% on average from 2019 to 2025

ACER, the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, published its Monitoring Report, Energy infrastructure development in Europe 2026, on Friday. The report reviewed 24 countries including Norway and found that 22 raised annual grid investment in 2025 compared with 2019. Only Luxembourg and Norway cut spending. Germany, Greece and Sweden posted the largest increases, at 505%, 327% and 310%.

The 155% figure is an average across the 24 countries. It compares annual investment in 2025 with 2019, not a one-year jump. The report said annual investments had more than doubled since 2019, and most European countries expect higher investments in their grid infrastructure through 2030. ACER said electricity grid investment is expected to keep rising toward 2030, while delays and congestion could push up costs for consumers. Oilprice reported that European electricity demand is rising despite weak industrial activity and high energy costs, and that more solar and wind output is straining grids.

Fifteen of 18 countries expect to spend more by 2030

ACER said 15 of the 18 countries that gave estimates expect grid investment in 2030 to exceed 2025 levels, by an average of 134%. That is 83% of the countries that provided estimates, and the 18 are a subset of the 24 reviewed. The Netherlands expects investment to surge nearly fivefold from its 2025 level. Among the 18, Estonia, Latvia and Cyprus forecast declines. ACER said the estimates "should be assessed with caution, considering the repeated delays to and rescheduling of transmission projects".

Consumer costs and network tariffs

ACER said higher grid investment should push up network tariffs. It cited sector estimates that consumer grid costs could rise 50% to 100% by 2050 compared with current levels. The report said rising manufacturing prices and higher grid investment were expected to be among the main drivers. EU gas demand is expected to fall about 18% from 2025 levels by 2030 to meet climate targets, leaving fewer customers to share fixed network costs and putting further upward pressure on tariffs.

Commission estimates grid needs to 2050

The European Commission has estimated that 2 trillion to 2.3 trillion euros ($2.25 trillion to $2.6 trillion) is needed for grid needs until 2050, according to a European Court of Auditors review published last year. By the end of the decade, the EU would need 584 billion euros ($656 billion), the Commission says. It says 40% of distribution grids are more than 40 years old and cross-border transmission capacity is set to double by 2030.