Grid Operator Chief Defends Long-Term Planning Strategy Amid Calls for Transparency

By Euractiv Staff

Damian Cortinas, a leading figure at Entso-E, the European Network of Transmission System Operators, has mounted a robust defense of the industry’s controversial ten-year grid development plans. As Europe accelerates its transition toward a decarbonized energy system, the framework used to forecast and build electricity infrastructure has come under intense scrutiny from regulators and civil society alike.

In a recent ten-year network development plan (TYNDP), Entso-E outlines the ambitious infrastructure investments required to integrate massive amounts of renewable energy into the continent’s power grid. While these roadmaps are essential for long-term stability, critics have increasingly argued that the process lacks the necessary transparency, urging operators to provide more granular data and greater public oversight.

Defending the Methodology

Addressing these concerns, Cortinas emphasized that the existing planning mechanism is not only functional but critical for maintaining security of supply. He argued that the complex modeling required to predict Europe’s energy needs a decade in advance is inherently difficult, and that current methodologies have proven successful in navigating the volatile transition period.

“The planning process is robust because it is designed to manage large-scale regional coordination,” Cortinas stated. “When we look at the complexity of interconnecting national grids to serve a single, unified market, the current long-term framework provides the stability that investors and member states need.”

The Transparency Tussle

However, the push for greater openness is gaining momentum. Skeptics, including some European lawmakers and energy analysts, claim that the lack of transparency in how grid projects are selected can lead to inefficient spending and the prioritization of legacy assets over innovative, decentralized solutions.

Cortinas cautioned against the growing calls for increased disclosure, suggesting that excessive transparency requirements could inadvertently hamper the speed of grid expansion. He warned that if the planning process becomes overly burdened by public consultation requirements or requests for proprietary technical data, it risks slowing down the “urgent deployment” of essential transmission lines.

Balancing Act

As the European Union pushes for a more integrated energy union, the tension between grid efficiency and democratic oversight remains a defining challenge. The Entso-E strategy, while prioritizing speed and technical feasibility, faces a landscape where public trust and accountability are becoming just as vital as the steel and copper required to build the grid of the future.

Industry observers suggest that the coming year will be a litmus test for Entso-E. With major infrastructure projects slated to commence across the continent, the organization will need to find a middle ground—satisfying the demand for clearer, more accessible data without compromising the technical agility needed to keep the lights on during the green transition.