Speaking at a conference organised by the Polish Presidency of the EU Council on electricity grids and energy security, Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director General of DG ENER at the European Commission, explained that current political discussions on European defence and security should “take up” the subject of energy and, more specifically, the development of grids.
“The question is how this will then be translated into funding decisions and financial support instruments as we move forward”, she stressed. “I think it’s too early to say. It is really important to have this political discussion before starting to plan certain details of the instruments”, she continued.
With regard to electricity grids, the costs of which continue to rise (see other news), the Director General believes that the “additional cost of security” will have to be taken into account, on top of the tariffs, “which must already reflect the major investments” in the coming years.
Some of the factors that will help to reduce costs, according to her, are investment in new technologies, but also improved rules on congestion and a network pricing system that better reflects costs and encourages greater use of the network when prices are lower.
She also emphasised the need to speed up licensing, minimise risks for investors and improve planning for cross-border interconnections.
Also asked about the integration of hydrogen networks, the Director cut short the debate, saying that, while hydrogen “will be part of the integrated energy system in the future”, at present “the emphasis should be on the need to invest in networks and flexibility (...) making the investments where we get more out of it”. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)