Lesley O’Connor, founder SupergridEurope. Image: SupergridEurope
SupergridEurope is a new, independent Brussels-based think tank dedicated to accelerating the realisation of a pan-European electricity supergrid.
Founded and launched by the Irish think tank Trifecta Energy, SupergridEurope seeks to advocate for coordinated EU grid policies, including reforms of governance, grid planning and market mechanisms, to deliver a modern, interconnected grid that meets the challenges of this decisive decade.
In particular, SupergridEurope is calling for the establishment of a European energy agency to serve as an independent grid architect tasked with coordinating long-term grid planning, identifying innovation gaps, providing transparent data, overseeing the delivery of major cross-border infrastructure and ensuring Europe’s energy system evolves to meet its climate and competitiveness goals.
In addition, SupergridEurope is calling for the Commission to make grid technology innovation accessible from its €40 billion ($47 billion) innovation fund, from which no funding has been allocated for manufacturing or demonstration projects so far.
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For example sector-specific calls could be introduced for innovative electricity transmission technologies and the evaluation criteria adjusted to better reflect the nature of enabling technologies such as innovative grid technology, SupergridEurope suggests.
With the European Commission’s grids package due this autumn and growing political momentum for coordinated grid planning, the window for action is now, the organisation states.
“We must recognise the importance of this moment in history; the responsibility we entrust to our policy makers during their new terms in office, in this critical decade for European energy sovereignty and the fight against climate change,” says Lesley O’Connor, founder of SupergridEurope.
“The realisation of a pan-European electricity supergrid is no longer a technical debate – it’s an urgent political priority for maintaining European competitiveness that requires governance reform.”
While the concept of a European supergrid is envisaged in the Commission’s grid action plan – a ‘true energy union’ as Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen terms it – SupergridEurope’s hope is to accelerate its planning and delivery, while also stimulating political and societal support.
‘Internet for electrons’
SupergridEurope’s vision of a supergrid – as an internet for electrons, seamlessly routing energy from indigenous wind, water, and solar sources across Europe to where it is needed at any given moment – is apparently inspired by the work of O’Connor’s late father Eddie, who was a leading figure in Ireland’s energy sector, and his book ‘Supergrid – Super Solution’, which was published in 2023.
A second edition, updated by O’Connor following her father’s death, appeared in 2024.
Supergrid Europe is being led by Christian Kjaer as executive director, with senior advisor Suzana Carp as permanent representative in Brussels.
Kjaer is chief public affairs officer of Supernode – an O’Connor founded company – and chair of currENT Europe.
Carp is a climate policy specialist serving as deputy director of Cleantech for Europe and senior policy advisor to currENT Europe.
Originally published on Enlit World.
