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EU's Ribera calls for more France-Iberia power links to boost competitiveness

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Spain Urges More France‑Iberia Power Links to Boost Competitiveness

On Tuesday, Spanish energy minister José Ribera urged the European Union to accelerate the construction of new electricity links between France and the Iberian Peninsula. In a speech delivered in Madrid, Ribera highlighted that expanding interconnections would lower prices for consumers, enhance the security of supply, and strengthen the competitiveness of Spanish industries in a rapidly evolving European energy market.

Why Interconnectors Matter

Europe’s power grid is still highly fragmented, with many national markets operating largely in isolation. Ribera pointed out that, as a result, price spikes can travel across borders and that Spain and Portugal frequently face shortages during peak demand periods, especially in winter. “Our current connection to France is a single 300‑MW HVDC link that has been operating for over a decade,” Ribera said. “With the current and future demands, that link is no longer sufficient.”

He explained that a broader, more robust network would allow renewable energy produced in sunny or windy regions to reach markets that need it, thereby reducing reliance on costly fossil‑fuel imports. “If we can export more of the renewable electricity we produce in the south, we can lower the cost of energy for all,” Ribera added, underscoring the economic benefit for Spanish manufacturers and exporters.

EU Energy Union Strategy

Ribera’s call comes in line with the European Commission’s “Energy Union” agenda, which seeks to create a single, integrated electricity market across the EU. The Commission’s 2025‑2030 energy strategy includes a target of adding at least 10 GW of new cross‑border interconnectors by 2030, up from the current 4 GW. The Spanish minister said Spain is fully committed to meeting these targets and will work with France, Portugal, and the broader European network operators.

The energy union plan is also closely tied to the EU’s climate goals. By interconnecting national grids, the EU can balance supply and demand across the continent, allowing intermittent renewables to play a larger role in meeting the 55% net‑zero emissions target set for 2030. Ribera emphasized that a more connected grid is the “most cost‑effective path” to a low‑carbon future, and that it will reduce the need for storage solutions that are expensive and environmentally challenging.

Existing Projects and Future Plans

Ribera reviewed the existing interconnection between Spain and France—known as the “Viriato” HVDC link—which carries 300 MW of power. He noted that Spain is already planning a new 1,200‑MW HVDC cable that will run from the French border through Castilla‑La Mancha to the Spanish grid, a project expected to be operational by 2026. In addition, the Iberian Peninsula’s “IberGrid” consortium is working on a new 1,000‑MW link that will connect the Spanish, Portuguese, and French grids in a single corridor. Ribera said that these projects would create thousands of jobs during construction and operation.

Beyond Iberia, the minister also highlighted France’s own interconnectors with Germany, Italy, and Belgium, noting that these links could be leveraged to bring additional capacity to Spain if a new corridor were established. “We are talking about a pan‑European network where every country can send and receive power as needed,” Ribera said, pointing out that such flexibility is essential for meeting the EU’s net‑zero commitments.

Funding and EU Support

Ribera referenced the EU’s NextGenerationEU recovery fund, which has earmarked €120 billion for cross‑border infrastructure projects, including electricity interconnectors. He emphasized that Spain would actively seek co‑financing from both national and EU sources to accelerate construction timelines. Ribera also praised the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO‑E) for its role in coordinating grid expansions, noting that the group’s “Integrated Grid” plan will help identify the most cost‑effective corridors for new links.

The Spanish minister also underlined the role of the EU’s “Grid Co‑ordination” mechanism, which will streamline permitting processes across borders, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and shorten the timeline for projects from several years to less than a year. “If we can speed up the permitting process by even a few months, we can reduce the overall cost of new interconnectors by 10% to 15%,” Ribera said.

Political Context and Future Outlook

The call for more power links has been welcomed by both Spanish opposition parties and the European Parliament’s Committee on Energy and Climate. Members of the European Parliament cited the need for a more integrated grid to achieve a truly single European market. The Spanish government, meanwhile, has already announced a new national plan to upgrade its transmission system, targeting a 3% increase in interconnection capacity by 2025.

Ribera concluded his speech by calling for a “collaborative, multi‑national effort” to secure the energy future of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe as a whole. “If we build more links, we will create a safer, cheaper, and greener energy system for all,” he said.

The European Commission is expected to respond to Ribera’s proposals at its next energy summit in Brussels, where further discussions on funding mechanisms and project timelines will take place. As Europe continues to push for a net‑zero future, the expansion of cross‑border interconnectors remains a pivotal element in balancing supply, demand, and sustainability across the continent.