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This briefing by Ember provides recommendations for the European Commission's 'European grid package' to accelerate the upgrade, digitalisation, and expansion of European grid infrastructure. Ember argues that electricity grids should be treated as strategic infrastructure essential for economic growth and competitiveness, rather than just technical assets. The document proposes a shift toward independent and integrated planning, the establishment of a financing 'one-stop-shop', and the adoption of a TOTEX-based regulatory approach to incentivise flexibility and grid-enhancing technologies over traditional capital-heavy reinforcements.

This report by Ember analyses the critical role of electricity grid availability in determining the location and growth of data centres in Europe. It argues that grid congestion in traditional hubs is pushing investment toward the Nordics and Southern Europe, and recommends proactive grid planning, flexible connection agreements, and strategic siting to support the EU's AI ambitions.

This report by Ember explores the potential for an electricity interconnector between Europe and North America to enhance grid security and efficiency as both regions decarbonise. The analysis suggests that differences in time zones and weather patterns—specifically uncorrelated wind, temperature, and rainfall—could provide significant arbitrage opportunities and system resilience, potentially offering a more cost-effective solution than nuclear power or hydrogen.

This report by Ember evaluates the feasibility of three clean flexibility proposals put forward by the COP29 Presidency in Azerbaijan: achieving 1,500 GW of global energy storage by 2030, expanding grid infrastructure by 25 million kilometres by 2030, and unlocking a global clean hydrogen market. The analysis concludes that while the storage goal is highly achievable due to surging battery manufacturing capacity and falling prices, the grid expansion goal requires a significant increase in build rates and faces substantial regulatory and supply chain hurdles. The report also notes that the deployment of hydrogen electrolysers remains highly uncertain despite large-scale announced projects.

This briefing by Ember analyzes the European Union's grid policy framework, identifying over 80 action points across various legislative and non-legislative files. It evaluates the roles of the European Commission, EU institutions, and Member States in expanding and modernizing electricity infrastructure to support renewables and electrification, while providing three specific recommendations for the new EU Energy Commissioner to improve implementation, financing, and digitalization.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics argues that transitioning to zero-carbon electricity grids powered by wind and solar is technically and economically feasible. It debunks common myths regarding the need for fossil fuel backups and grid overloading, highlighting that stability can be achieved through flexibility solutions, digitalisation, and cross-border interconnectors. The document provides real-world examples from countries like Denmark, Portugal, and Namibia, while noting that insufficient investment in grid infrastructure remains a primary obstacle to a faster global rollout.

This policy brief by Ember argues that Europe must double its electricity interconnection capacity over the next ten to fifteen years to meet climate neutrality goals and ensure security of supply. It highlights a gap between current expansion plans and actual power system needs, warning that slow project timeframes—averaging nine years—could create bottlenecks for wind and solar expansion.

This policy brief by Ember provides recommendations for the European Commission's Grids Action Plan, arguing that power grids must become the backbone of the energy system to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. The document identifies critical gaps in investment, data transparency, and planning frameworks, proposing a shift toward anticipatory grid investments and integrated system-level planning to ensure grid constraints do not hinder renewable energy deployment.