The study “Expansion of the Electricity Grids: Investment Requirements” (Bauermann, Kaczmarczyk, Krebs, 2024) analyses the investment required to upgrade Germany’s electricity grids by 2045. The estimates indicate a total requirement of around €651 billion, of which approximately €328 billion is for transmission grids and €323 billion for distribution grids. Grid expansion is a key prerequisite for the successful decarbonisation and electrification of transport, industry and buildings.

The study ‘Financing Options for Electricity Grid Expansion and Their Impact on Grid Tariffs’ examines how different financing models influence electricity prices. The result: financing via public equity (ÖÖP) is significantly cheaper than via private investors (ÖPP). With public financing, grid tariffs rise by an average of just 1.7 ct/kWh, whereas private models would be almost twice as expensive and would increase annual costs for consumers by up to 14 billion euros.