On 2 June 2025, ENTSO-E, EuropaСable, the EU DSO Entity and T&D Europe jointly published a roadmap for a stronger and more coordinated electricity grid supply chain.
The roadmap highlights the progress achieved so far, outlines specific future actions, and calls on policymakers to support this industrial momentum with decisive regulatory backing during the revision of the public procurement directives.
In November 2023, the EU Grid Action Plan (Action 13) explicitly called for joint cooperation aimed at developing common technology specifications and improving transparency around grid project pipelines, in order to facilitate investment in manufacturing capacity and secure supply chains. At the Energy Infrastructure Forum, the four associations presented the joint roadmap developed in this context.
Europe’s transition to a decarbonised energy system depends on the rapid deployment of modern and reliable electricity infrastructure. In response to the European Commission’s call for closer collaboration across the grid ecosystem to overcome technical, industrial, and regulatory barriers, the four organisations have worked in close partnership since the end of 2023. The result is a structured and practical course of action, reflected in this shared roadmap.
The roadmap focuses on improving transparency regarding equipment and system needs at all voltage levels, as well as on testing and qualification specifications for HVDC and EHVAC cable systems. It also aims to harmonise high-level technical specification templates for HVDC projects, to conduct joint assessments, and to define priority areas for reform of the EU public procurement directives from a shared perspective. Building on a jointly held public webinar, the organisations will also continue to stress the importance of a skilled workforce.
Europe’s transmission system operators (TSOs) already forecast over €800 billion in investments by 2050 for interconnectors and internal projects that will be added, upgraded, or modernised. ENTSO-E’s latest TYNDP2024 shows that for every euro invested in interconnection capacity, two euros are saved in system costs.
A recent survey among European distribution system operators (DSOs) showed that some expect up to a 40% increase in cable demand by 2030, driven by accelerated electrification and a sharp rise in connection requests to the distribution grid. In response, manufacturers are already scaling up their capacity: EuropaСable members have committed more than €4 billion to expand cable production, and T&D Europe members have publicly pledged more than €9 billion to expand global manufacturing capacity in the past 12 months.
The four organisations are now calling on policymakers to match this industrial momentum with strong regulatory support. A modernised public procurement framework is urgently needed to encourage innovation, accelerate grid deployment, and safeguard Europe’s strategic autonomy. At the same time, targeted investments in skills development are crucial to avoid bottlenecks and to maintain Europe’s technological leadership. The organisations welcome and support the establishment of a Net Zero Industry Academy for the Electricity Grid Sector.
This initiative marks a significant level of coordination across Europe’s electricity value chain – from grid operators to manufacturers. It demonstrates how collective action can remove obstacles, accelerate infrastructure development, and contribute to achieving Europe’s climate and industrial objectives.
