Context and Collective Vision
On September 23, 2025, a coalition of over 70 utilities and power sector partners under the Utilities for Net Zero Alliance released a strategic “blueprint” for infrastructure modernization aimed at aligning power grids with the demands of the energy transition. The plan comes amid consensus that current grid systems—characterized by aging assets, limited flexibility, and insufficient integration of distributed generation—must undergo a fundamental upgrade to support wider renewable deployment and electrification.
Core Components of the Blueprint
The proposed framework calls for coordinated investment in grid expansion, modernization, and digitalization. Key elements include deploying advanced grid controls, increasing transmission and distribution capacity, integrating energy storage solutions, and enabling cross-sector coupling (e.g. linking power with electrified transport and hydrogen). The coalition estimates that approximately USD 670 billion per year will be needed globally from 2025 to 2030 to strengthen electricity infrastructure sufficiently. The blueprint also emphasizes institutional reforms—permitting acceleration, regulatory alignment, and better stakeholder coordination—to unlock investment and accelerate project execution.
Implications for Energy Transition
The blueprint highlights how central grid modernization is to the success of decarbonization efforts. Well- designed grids will allow more renewables to be added reliably, reduce curtailment, and support demand flexibility and resilience. For utilities and governments, the document serves as both a roadmap and a call to action: the scale and pace of infrastructure change must match ambition. Failure to modernize could create bottlenecks that slow deployment of clean energy, making grid investment one of the most consequential battlegrounds in the transition to net zero.