Wussten Sie schon? Nur zwei EU-Mitgliedstaaten verfügen über konkrete Pläne¹, die darauf abzielen, das Stromnetz bis 2050 CO₂-frei zu gestalten: Deutschland und Frankreich.
EU Net-Zero 2050 – Power as the front-runner
Under the EU Climate Law, every kilowatt-hour generated in the Union must be net-zero in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050 at the latest. To let other sectors decarbonise through clean electrification, the power sector is expected to be the first to reach climate neutrality. This legally binding end date applies to the entire EU economy and marks a key milestone on Europe’s path to full climate neutrality.
Time horizons of national electricity-network development plans²
- France: to 2050 (EU target year)
- Germany: to 2045 (national net-zero target)
- Luxembourg: to 2040
- 23 other EU countries: mostly until the mid-2030s
Why does this matter?
- Long-term view: Roadmaps extending beyond 2045 enable targeted CO₂ cuts.
- Planning certainty: Missing time horizons slow investment in AI, HPC and cloud infrastructure.
- EU target alignment: Without coordinated grids, shared climate and energy goals cannot be met.
Despite forward planning, Germany is lagging
- 6,000 km of lines and seven years behind schedule on grid expansion³
- Distribution system operators (DSOs): plans⁴ often reach only to 2030—or end as early as 2025
- Connection backlogs persist despite higher investment and digitalisation initiatives
International perspective – power-grid investment
- EU: ≈ €72 bn per year (2024–2030) → ≈ €68 bn per year (2031–2050)⁵
- China: US $83 bn (2024) → US $89 bn (planned for 2025)⁶
- USA: US $170–340 bn in additional investment by 2030, mainly for data-centre and AI demand
Conclusion
The power grid has long been a locational asset—yet in Germany it is increasingly a structural deficit. While China and the United States are investing heavily, implementation at home is stalling. Turning plans into economic progress and social inclusion will require clear priorities, digital processes and the direct involvement of grid operators in planning.
