Europe’s complex energy ecosystem infrastructure: Why the grid needs modernization now
Europe’s power grid is the largest interconnected grid in the world—and it’s under pressure. Climate risks, outdated infrastructure, cyberattacks, and growing demand for renewable energy are changing the energy landscape. The challenge is clear: modernize now or risk falling behind as Europe works to meet ambitious capacity targets.
The grid has 400 interconnectors serving 600 million customers. By 2030, it is expected to reach 136 gigawatts of capacity. The EU electricity infrastructure stretches over a million kilometers, making it a critical part of Europe’s energy system. (EU electricity grids | EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service Briefing, May 2025)
According to Eurelectric, many of Europe’s distribution grids will be more than 40 years old by 2030, approaching the end of their lifespans.
The stakes are high. Grid bottlenecks can slow progress, and permitting delays sometimes last almost a decade, holding back important infrastructure projects. Europe needs to maintain a resilient, reliable grid and keep energy affordable for everyone—citizens, businesses, and industries.
Key EU policy initiatives driving grid innovation
The European Commission, Parliament, and the Council of the European Union provide strategic guidance, vital funding, and support for energy projects and innovation. EU policymakers are developing and implementing legislative measures and initiatives to digitally transform the electricity grid. Key initiatives include:
- The EU Grids Package , published in December 2025
- The Grids Package is a set of legislative proposals, policy initiatives, and strategic priorities to speed up the expansion and modernization of Europe’s energy infrastructure.
- The package is intended to clear grid bottlenecks, shorten permitting timelines, and speed up grid infrastructure development and other essential energy assets.
- “Strategic roadmap for digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI)” in the energy sector, expected during the first quarter of 2026
- This roadmap focuses on using digital and AI solutions to optimize electricity grids, enhance energy efficiency, and promote demand-side flexibility for decarbonization.
- Twin EU project , January 2024 – December 2026
- This EU-funded research and development project aims to create a Pan-European digital twin by connecting local electricity system twins, ensuring resilient, secure, and efficient energy operations across Europe.
How cross-sector collaboration fuels progress
European institutions collaborate with a wide range of energy sector stakeholders—including industry leaders, civil society groups, research organizations, transmission and distribution network operators, suppliers, and technology companies. Bentley’s EU government relations team engages with EU policymakers to advance supportive policies in transportation, energy, water, procurement, and infrastructure funding.
Bentley’s role in influencing EU energy policy
Bernardo Matos leads the team as senior director of EU government relations. He is proud of his team’s mission to show the powerful impact of digital solutions in advancing EU policy objectives. “We engage in constructive conversations with policymakers to demonstrate how digitalization (including AI) supports infrastructure rollout, boosts competitiveness and resilience, and advances decarbonization goals,.” he said.
Valentino Grassi is manager of EU government relations, driving Bentley’s energy work in Brussels. He works with EU policymakers on the digitalization of energy infrastructure and the ongoing implementation of AI regulations. He also leads Bentley’s government relations work in Italy, a key market for infrastructure innovation.
Beyond automation: How digital twins drive grid resilience
Matos shared that when energy companies talk about digitalizsing the grid, the conversation often focuses on automation linked to power flows—keeping systems stable and processes smooth. It’s an important goal, but there’s more to it. Bentley also focuses on the grid’s physical integrity and resilience as a critical part of this equation.
Digital twin software connects the physical and virtual world. This technology helps teams make better decisions using data at every stage of a project’s life and helps predict future needs.
Bentley’s solutions help infrastructure organizations and professionals deliver better projects and optimizze asset performance by making data easier to share and use throughout a project’s entire lifecycle. This means smarter decisions, stronger systems, and a future-ready grid.
Advancing grid initiatives through strategic partnerships
As Bentley’s government relations team strengthens ties with EU institutions, key associations, and energy sector companies, these partnerships create opportunities to share insights, exchange expertise, and expand our network. This collaborative approach ensures that Bentley remains a trusted voice in shaping Europe’s energy future.
Grassi plays a key role in engaging with influential associations, such as Eurelectric, energy sector partners, and other companies’ government relations teams. Through active participation in events, roundtables, and advisory councils, Bentley demonstrates leadership in advancing critical initiatives—including the Grids Package, accelerating digitalization through digital twins, and exploring emerging technologies like AI and data center integration.
As Grassi shared, “Bentley enables clarity in a complex energy landscape. Resolving complexity is the foundation of how we help Europe build a stronger grid.”
From policy to practice: Bentley’s role in Europe’s energy transition
Bentley is actively bridging the gap between policy discussions and practical technology solutions that support Europe’s energy transformation. Through high-level engagements and collaborative initiatives, we demonstrate how digital innovation can speed up progress toward a resilient and sustainable energy grid.
A highlight of our engagement was a recent roundtable at the European Parliament in December, where Bentley’s CEO, Nicholas Cumins, addressed members of the European Parliament and fellow industry leaders. He made a powerful case for digitalization, stressing that making our infrastructure more resilient, sustainable, and competitive is essential, as it forms the foundation of all economic activity. The discussion underscored how digital tools are crucial for enhancing engineer productivity and overall system resilience by modernizing inspection and maintenance workflows, thereby accelerating the development of the smart grid Europe needs.
In November, Grassi represented Bentley as a guest speaker at the annual European Energy and Industry Conference—an independent forum that convenes leading policymakers and industry innovators to shape the future of Europe’s energy policy.
A key theme of Grassi’s panel conversation with Mark Van Stiphout from the European Commission, was the importance of digitalization in powering the energy transition. “The transition to a smarter, more sustainable energy system depends on two things: transparency and data sharing. By establishing this foundation, we can use powerful tools like infrastructure digital twins to design, build, and manage the resilient grid of the future.”
Our commitment to advancing digitalizszation is further reflected in Bentley’s role on the TwinEU Advisory and Dissemination Board, where we presented Bentley’s iTwin software last year. This innovative technology powers digital twins, transforming how energy infrastructure is delivered and managed. User studies and videos showed the measurable benefits of adopting digital twins for efficiency and performance.
Looking ahead, Bentley will actively participate in upcoming EU Commission and Parliament roundtables focused on key energy and digital policy initiatives, including grids, data center integration into the EU grid, AI, and other energy-related topics. In addition, Bentley is organizing additional stakeholder meetings. These engagements will provide opportunities to share how Bentley’s digital solutions—including AI and data-driven technologies—align with the EU’s grid modernization goals.
By combining policy engagement with cutting-edge innovation, Bentley is helping Europe turn vision into reality—building smarter, more sustainable energy systems for the future.
Shaping Europe’s energy future together
Europe’s energy transition is complex, urgent, and full of opportunity. It requires bold ideas, collaboration, and action. Aging grids, climate challenges, and the integration of renewables require action now. Industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators are working together to overcome these challenges. Bentley is committed to helping Europe build a resilient, future-ready electricity grid through digitalization, innovation, and collaboration.
Explore how Bentley’s energy software and digital twin solutions accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, modern energy infrastructure.
