Four interconnected actions to successfully modernise grids for the bigger, clean power system of tomorrow

Build

Expand and reinforce transmission and distribution networks to connect renewables and meet rising electricity demand.

Enhance

Digitalise operations, deploy smart technologies and increase flexibility to maximise the use of existing grid infrastructure.

Link

Strengthen regional interconnection to integrate and share renewables, lower costs and boost energy security.

Plan

Evolve the power system efficiently by coordinating power grid development with other infrastructure plans.

Investment and planning for grids and interconnection turn them from constraint to catalysts of the energy transition

Grids connect generators to consumers, delivering power exactly when and where it is needed every second of the day. But most grids were built for a different era, one of centralised fossil fuel generation. Grids now need to evolve to support the cleaner, more decentralised power system of tomorrow.

Modernising grids means expanding and upgrading networks to integrate rising volumes of renewables, connect new consumers and industries, and handle electrification at scale. Yet in many countries, investment in grids has not kept pace with investment in renewables, creating bottlenecks that slow the pace of the energy transition.

Long connection times, high connection costs and weak cross border link are the most significant barriers to grid modernisation. Ember’s research shows clear solutions: building and reinforcing networks, digitalising operations, strengthening cross-border links, and planning grid development in step with the rest of the energy system.

Anchor point: Our work

Our work

Stronger, smarter grids underpin the transition

Our regional teams in Europe and Asia analyse the state of grids and what action is needed to ensure tomorrow’s networks can support an increasing share of clean energy and technologies. Making hard-to-find data on grids available and accessible is another key strand of Ember’s work in this area. Such information is crucial for stakeholders to make informed investment decisions, address potential barriers and track overall progress

Across Asia, Ember’s grids and interconnection research focus on integrating rapidly rising solar and wind while keeping systems reliable and affordable. In Southeast Asia, we quantify transmission expansion needs and chart pathways to a more connected regional grid, showing how targeted grid investment and interconnections can unlock renewables, strengthen energy security, and support new digital loads.

In Europe, we map the benefits and challenges of the transmission grid build-out, highlight various barriers, and set out practical fixes for faster delivery. We quantify the value of interconnectors and provide an open data tool tracking cross-border capacity and flows. Other relevant work includes deep dives on the EU’s grid policy framework and input to the European Commission’s Grid Policy Package, research on hosting-capacity maps, and highlighting how proactive grid planning can accommodate fast-growing data centre demand. Ember is also a member of the Stakeholder Reference Group, an external expert body for the European Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP).

Across both regions, Ember’s research identifies cross-border interconnection, transmission expansion and grid digitalisation as the three largest untapped opportunities for accelerating the energy transition – with the biggest gains available to countries that act on all three together.

Grids are the foundation of 21st century economies – carrying clean electricity to power industries and consumers. Grids unlock everything else. Without them, the energy transition cannot move forward and economies cannot grow.