Global electricity grids require urgent investment to support energy transition

Global experts at the CIGRE 2026 Paris Session have highlighted a critical need to accelerate investment in electricity grids to support renewable energy integration, rising data-center demand, and general electrification. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that annual grid investment must increase by 50%, rising from $400 billion to $600 billion annually by 2030.

Challenges include long project delivery times, with transmission lines in Europe and the United States often taking eight to ten years to permit and build, compared to significantly shorter timelines in China and India. Additionally, the sector faces a looming workforce gap, with an estimated need for 1.5 million additional engineers, technicians, and digital specialists by 2030.

A significant disparity exists in the global energy transition. While some regions face renewable energy curtailment due to insufficient transmission and storage, approximately 600 million people in Africa—nearly 43% of the continent's population—still lack electricity access. Despite holding roughly 60% of the world's solar potential, Africa receives less than 3% of global energy investment, underscoring the gap between generation capacity and the infrastructure required to distribute power to those in need.