US EditionEu Seeks Better Spain-France Energy Links After Blackout
The EU aims to cut industrial electricity prices now at 0.199 euro per kWh by fast-tracking France-Spain grid links and improving cross-border energy flow.
- On Wednesday, the European Commission presented plans to speed up permitting and coordinate cross-border grid projects, prioritizing two France–Spain interconnections across the Pyrenees among eight energy highways.
- The Iberian Peninsula's grid operates as an energy island, a key factor blamed for a slow April blackout recovery and industrial electricity prices of 0.199 euro per kWh in 2024.
- Fast-Tracking complements France–Spain links with hydrogen and Baltic upgrades, including a Portugal–Germany hydrogen corridor and Baltic States electricity links, as Neil Makaroff said `No energy security can be achieved in Europe if electricity is not able to flow freely across the continent`.
- European businesses and families could see lower costs as links let energy operators diversify supplies and reduce dependency on volatile oil and gas markets.
- Dan Jorgensen warned that France has at times been reluctant on interconnections, and Spain and Portugal have accused France of delaying infrastructure, while EU officials said resilient integrated grids are needed to shift from gas and oil.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Brussels moves to bolster Spain-France energy links following Iberian Peninsula blackout
The European Union said on Wednesday that it intends to strengthen energy links between France and Spain, as part of a broader effort to safeguard the bloc’s power supply months after a major outage disrupted much of the Iberian Peninsula. Spain and Portugal have long argued that France has been slow to develop the infrastructure needed to properly integrate the peninsula with the wider European grid. ALSO READ: Spain’s grid operator warns of ne…
The European Commission will speed up the permits for these projects, which are considered a political priority in the Community block and will require investments of 1.2 billion. Read
Among other things, the proposal provides for the prioritized expansion of eight "energy highways" to eliminate needle-eyes in the EU's energy system. "By strengthening the interconnection of national networks, we increase resilience across borders and enable national systems to support each other," said EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera in presenting the package of measures. The EU is moving away from "fragmented national plans towards …
The European Commission hopes to convince France to accelerate energy interconnections with the Iberian Peninsula by "strengthening dialogue", providing technical solutions and improving the rules for sharing project costs. "France has been reluctant to have more interconnectors", but "prevents 40 blackouts per year" thanks to its electrical links with other countries, European Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said at a press conference at the …
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