The informal meeting of European energy ministers in Brussels on Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 April was devoted exclusively to the development and integration of the European electricity network, heralding a new phase of planning and reflection on the “resilience” of the European energy system 2 years after the start of the war in Ukraine.
In any case, this is how the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU saw its informal meeting, which will lead to EU Council conclusions for further work on electricity networks (see EUROPE 13391/5).
“We’ve had so many meetings between energy ministers in crisis format. (...) During all the meetings we’ve had over the past 2 years, we’ve also mentioned the need to have a forward-looking vision, to be more resilient, and to regain control of our energy. (...) So what could be more forward-looking than networks?”, asked Belgian Energy Minister Tinne van der Straeten to the press.
Planning and financing
The ministers agreed on the need for better integration and planning of the network and cross-border interconnections at European level, while taking account of regional specificities within the EU and with third countries.
In the presence of the European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), they also discussed the issue of early investment, the use of existing European programmes such as the Connecting Europe Facility to finance the network, but also the general EU budget and innovative financing mechanisms.
Security of energy infrastructures
Nor did the ministers shy away from the subject of the security of physical energy infrastructures and cyber security. They discussed their collaboration with NATO on the energy front, as well as Ukraine’s pressing financial and material needs.
The Ukrainian Energy Minister, German Galushchenko, came to report the destruction caused by recent attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure by the Russian army.
“We have calculated that we have lost up to 7 GW in our system. This is a considerable production capacity”, he told the press.
The European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, also announced that she would convene a G7+ meeting with Ukraine to consider the best ways to support the country following the attacks.
Mass electrification
The second day of the meeting focused on the implementation, standardisation, licensing and acceleration of energy infrastructure projects, in the presence of the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič.
He explained that almost €600 billion of investment would be needed over the decade to modernise the networks, and also urged to look beyond 2030.
“We will need a modern, digitalised network that will carry 3 to 3.5 times more electricity than today, because we will be electrifying almost everything. Today’s discussion is therefore of crucial strategic importance for the future of the European economy”, he declared.
Priority to electricity networks
The meeting focused exclusively on electricity networks and not on hydrogen networks. Ms Van der Straeten explained: “Without electricity, there is no hydrogen. Our priorities must be clear”.
“We have a large production capacity and great potential in our various sea basins within the European Union, which can be used to produce hydrogen. (...) But if we don’t develop electricity production, if we don’t develop the network infrastructure, hydrogen won’t be available”, she added.
However, she explained that hydrogen had not been completely excluded from discussions on network planning and integration, but that the debate had focused primarily on electrification needs. “I’m convinced that hydrogen will follow. Choosing is not giving up, in this case”, concluded the minister. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)