The renewable electrification of the economy and society, as an alternative to polluting energy sources such as natural gas, is triggering one of the greatest waves of innovation in history. The entire nervous system must be replaced. To enable electricity consumption to double by 2050 to a staggering 54,000 TWh, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that more than 80 million kilometres of electrical grids must be added or upgraded by 2040 — the equivalent of the entire infrastructure currently in place worldwide.

The challenge is unprecedented: what has been achieved since electricity first began transforming our lives must be done again (or redone) in just two decades. That means doubling today’s investment rate and surpassing €525 billion per year globally. And if the rollout is to align with climate targets, investment has to be even higher: around €1 trillion annually through to 2050, with €2.2 trillion needed by 2035 alone, according to McKinsey.

The European Union (EU) operates the world’s largest and most interconnected power grid, spanning more than one million kilometres — yet 40% of its infrastructure is more than 40 years old. That is hardly reassuring given that electricity demand is expected to rise by around 60%, according to Brussels, and cross-border transmission capacity must double by 2030.

This is why the EU has raised its annual grid investment estimate to between €65 billion and €100 billion through to 2030. Significant differences will emerge between Member States: Germany, for example, will need to invest more than three times as much as France by 2050.

There is broad consensus that wind and solar photovoltaics must account for more than 80% of overall generation capacity expansion in the next two decades — up from less than 40% over the past 20 years. To reach net zero by 2050, the share should be closer to 90%.

The reality, however, falls far short of the targets. At least 3,000 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects — half of them in advanced stages — were waiting to be connected to power grids at the end of 2023, creating serious bottlenecks.

 
Global investment in grids has barely shifted and remains steady at around $260 billion a year. Without improvements, the risk of service disruptions rises. These already cost about $87 billion annually, equivalent to 0.1% of global GDP. It is a vicious circle: grid congestion issues grow wherever investment falls behind.
 

Despite pressing social, economic and environmental needs, the rollout of new infrastructure in the EU typically takes between five and fifteen years due to complex permitting processes, often involving multiple authorities along the route. The construction of Ultranet — a 340 km high-voltage direct current link in Germany — is estimated to require around 13,500 permits.

Grid operators and infrastructure companies need strong allies in this monumental effort, because modernisation increasingly goes hand in hand with digital transformation: smart meters, automated grid management and enhanced field operations.

Digital technologies improve the predictability of energy flows — crucial in a world with growing numbers of distributed resources such as electric vehicles, renewable plants and electric heat pumps. Data-driven strategies also help to better balance supply and demand and facilitate information exchange between distribution and transmission operators.

Smart meters are one of the main gateways for smart grids to connect with the Internet of Things. The latest generation is equipped with greater edge processing capabilities and artificial intelligence (AI).

Investment in infrastructure implies a major shift in the electricity supply paradigm. AI will support the integration of renewables, stabilise energy systems and enable forecasting models that move far beyond traditional usage patterns. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) argues that if modern grids were just 5% more efficient, the energy savings would equal the emissions avoided by taking 53 million cars off the road.

Driven by digital innovation, 90% of European grid operators plan to upgrade low-voltage networks, traditionally the least attractive from a business standpoint. This will intensify the convergence between transmission — from power generation to the grid — and distribution — from the grid to end users. It will also accelerate the deployment of AI-enabled self-healing systems in control rooms, allowing operators to analyse network conditions and identify new routes to transport and redistribute electricity.

Ultimately, this transformation brings an unavoidable cybersecurity challenge. The electricity system is unique: it requires fast, precise control. Transport systems operate at 50 or 60 Hz to instantly balance load and match demand to supply.

Digitalisation introduces vast numbers of new devices — all potential access points for cyberattacks — because the system relies on software and communications for control. As a result, much of today’s innovation is focused on securing every possible vulnerability.

For more information on concepts such as the Internet of Energy, we recommend this article exploring smart buildings and next-generation energy management systems.

Sources:

• “Electricity Grids  and Secure Energy Transitions”, AIE, noviembre de 2023
• “Regional Energy Transition Outlook European Union”, IRENA, 2025
• Saša Butorac, European Parliamentary Research Service, “EU electricity grids”, mayo de 2025
• IEA
• UE
• “The smart grid: How AI is powering today’s energy technologies”, SAP, 25 de julio de 2024
• “The Control Room of the Future”, Capgemini, 2025
• “Grid Edge Intelligence Portfolio”, Itron, mayo de 2025
• “Low-voltage Grid Management Report”, Schneider Electric, 2024
• Comisión Europea