Issue Grid congestion as the most acute transition bottleneck

Summary

The report identifies uncertainty over how quickly the electricity grid can be reinforced as the most acute bottleneck of the energy transition. Expanding the grid takes longer than building new generating capacity, and labour market shortages of technical staff make it harder still. Energy infrastructure such as landing stations and medium-voltage substations also needs space, which slows the transition. Rising electricity demand and the planned phase-out of gas-fired plants make the power system more critical, and the report names grid overload as one of the biggest challenges of the coming years. Rising infrastructure investment costs are delaying solutions, and procedures at the Council of State hold up planned infrastructure as well.