WEMO 2025 (complet) - Flipbook - Page 79
03 Energy transition: countries perspective
Client story: Overcoming supply chain challenges to accelerate grid expansion
The supply chain challenge
By 2040, more than 80 million kilometers of
power lines will need to be built or modernized
worldwide. In Germany alone, around 25,700
kilometers of transmission grid are to be
constructed by 2045 – with a substantial portion
to be delivered by TenneT. This monumental
task is triggering a global and intensifying race
for raw materials, components, and highly
specialized power electronics. But it’s not just
about supply chains – it’s about energy security,
economic strength, and Europe’s role in a
transformed global landscape.
What we need from policymakers
What we need now is an industrial policy
framework that enables action and ensures
investment security. The expansion of
European production capacities – for instance
in power electronics, transformers, or direct
current technology – must be politically
supported through demand-oriented planning,
faster permitting processes, clear market
conditions, and targeted incentives. This is how
we ensure value creation in Europe, reduce
dependencies, and strengthen the resilience of
our energy infrastructure.
Anyone investing billions in strategic industries
needs reliability. In times of geopolitical
uncertainty, stable framework conditions are
the most valuable currency. Europe must
actively promote key technologies for the
energy transition – from high-voltage systems
and AI to semiconductor manufacturing. This
requires a strong European alignment, lean
structures, and investments in our
technological sovereignty.
