Cross-border power grids protect Europe from price shocks

A prolonged spell of cloudy and windless weather across Europe has sharply reduced renewable energy generation. According to energy company Norlys, average wholesale electricity prices in Denmark reached 1.80 DKK per kilowatt-hour—their highest weekly level in nearly four years. To meet demand, grid operators were forced to rely far more heavily on expensive gas-fired power plants.

This price surge comes as delegates from nearly 200 countries gather in Antalya, Turkey, for the COP31 climate conference. International climate talks are facing renewed pressure from global energy security concerns and surging power demand from artificial intelligence.

Sceptics of deeper integration argue that national governments must retain strict control over domestic power networks to protect local industrial interests. Yet managing electricity grids as 27 separate national silos leaves individual markets exposed whenever local weather conditions stall wind and solar production.

Weather patterns do not respect national borders. When North Sea wind speeds drop, solar or hydro generation elsewhere on the continent can balance the shortfall—provided cross-border cables exist to carry the power. Accelerating shared grid connections turns isolated national markets into a resilient buffer against price volatility. By building a unified energy market, Europe can protect consumers from sharp price spikes and secure dependable power for its economy.