Europe’s energy transition is often framed in terms of targets and flagship initiatives: 45% renewables by 2030, faster permitting for grid projects, and stronger cross-border electricity flows under the Energy Highways initiative.
Policymakers face not only planning and financing challenges, but also whether Europe can quickly produce, certify, and deploy safe, reliable grid equipment to meet its targets.
At the same time, demand will likely rise as transport and heating electrify, while data centres and industrial loads expand, placing unprecedented strain on electricity networks and the supply chains behind them.
Electrification is not just about building more cables or installing more generation capacity. It requires equipment that can operate safely under high voltages, withstand environmental stress and remain reliable for decades. Transformers, insulation systems, circuit boards and power electronics form the basis of modern electricity networks, and their performance depends heavily on the materials used to manufacture them.
For Europe's electrification strategy to be successful, energy policy and materials policy must work together effectively
Epoxies are one of those materials. They are widely used because they combine electrical insulation with mechanical stability and resistance to heat, moisture and chemicals. This improves safety and can reduce maintenance needs in applications such as cast-resin transformers, bushings, composite insulators and encapsulation for sensitive electronics.
In practical terms, this translates into safer equipment, longer service life and reduced maintenance needs. When grids are expected to carry more electricity, integrate new technologies and operate under increasingly complex conditions, reliability becomes a central concern. Materials that improve durability and operational stability, therefore, play a key role in supporting system resilience.
Policy misalignment creates unintended risks
Materials such as epoxies are essential, but largely invisible in electrification debates. Energy policy focuses on generation capacity, network expansion and permitting; chemicals policy focuses on protecting health and the environment through substance regulation. Both objectives are legitimate and necessary. The risk is misalignment: restricting substances in critical infrastructure without fully understanding available alternatives may unintentionally disrupt grid expansion or reliability.
This challenge is further complicated by the fact that replacing materials in electrical equipment is rarely straightforward. Grid components typically require redesign, testing and certification against strict safety and performance standards. As a result, substitution can take years and cannot be accelerated indefinitely without affecting cost, reliability or deployment timelines.
When grids are expected to carry more electricity, integrate new technologies and operate under increasingly complex conditions, reliability becomes a central concern
A coordinated policy approach is needed
For Europe's electrification strategy to be successful, energy policy and materials policy must work together effectively. This means acknowledging critical infrastructure needs when making decisions about chemicals, establishing practical transition paths, and ensuring an environment that encourages innovation in safer, more sustainable materials.
Policymakers should understand that successful electrification policies require more than just setting infrastructure goals and investing in the grid.
Coordinating electrification planning with chemical regulations and practical substitution timelines would enable Europe to develop a reliable, resilient, and competitive electricity network.
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