Time for independent energy system operation in the EU?

In brief

The article argues that the EU should seriously consider creating independent energy system operators and planners, rather than relying solely on existing institutional structures, because the clean-energy transition now requires faster, more integrated, and more strategically coordinated decision-making. Simon Skillings says the challenge is no longer just operating electricity networks efficiently, but transforming the whole energy system at speed: renewables, electrified demand, and grid expansion all need to develop in step. He points to the UK’s creation of NESO, an independent energy system operator and planner, as an important test case driven by concerns about conflicts of interest, the need to integrate electricity and gas, and the need for governments to receive trusted, technically independent advice. In his view, the real lesson is that system planning must become more anticipatory and spatial, so governments can identify where infrastructure is needed, reduce planning and permitting delays, and make earlier choices about land use, hydrogen, solar deployment, and other strategic trade-offs.

The article’s broader point is that strategic spatial energy planning should become the “beating heart” of the transition. Skillings argues that this kind of planning does more than map future infrastructure: it helps engage local communities earlier, clarifies which national policy decisions must be made and when, and creates a delivery-focused framework that keeps all parts of the energy system aligned. He says a successful transition depends on outcomes such as faster grid buildout, better-timed government decisions, and stronger coordination between generation, networks, and flexible demand. While he acknowledges that existing institutions might in theory deliver this, he concludes that the effort required to align organizational incentives with the public interest may be too great, and that establishing independent system operators and planners at both national and EU level could ultimately save time and cost while improving the chances of a rapid, low-cost energy transition.

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Source: https://energytransition.org/2025/12/time-for-independent-energy-system-operation-in-the-eu/