Publications

Grid congestion may delay housing construction and constrain new residential developments in high-demand areas. Accelerating investment in electricity networks, improving coordination between urban planning and grid planning, and optimizing the allocation of network capacity will be key to supporting residential growth.

Housing demand will remain strong despite the decline in home sales in 2026 (-7.3%), but housing supply will remain insufficient, continuing to put upward pressure on prices. Grid congestion and growing competition for electricity access are already delaying new residential and economic developments.

The energy transition is reducing Europe's exposure to gas. In Spain, the strong expansion of renewables has helped contain wholesale prices, but system costs have prevented this decline from being fully passed on to consumers.

The government’s measures arrive on time and can cushion part of the war’s impact on economic activity and prices if the shock is temporary. If energy prices continue to rise, more targeted measures will be needed—ones that do not distort price signals.

Electricity grids are becoming a global bottleneck to the energy transition. Without faster, anticipatory investment, renewables and electrification will not reach their full potential. Digitalisation and storage help, but cannot substitute for grid expansion.

The Colombian electricity system stands out for its renewable matrix, high coverage, and regional resilience. Demand is growing steadily and supply is gradually advancing, in a context where diversification of sources and thermal backup will be key to maintaining reliability.

Spain's electricity faces significant challenges. While recent efforts have focused on expanding wind and solar capacity, effective grid integration is equally crucial for a successful energy transition.