Eurelectric report highlights vulnerabilities in European power grid infrastructure

A new report by Eurelectric, representing European electricity companies, reveals that the continent's power grids are more vulnerable to physical and hybrid attacks than previously estimated. The study, presented at the Munich Security Conference, gives European energy firms a readiness score of only 6.7 out of 10. Critical components such as high-voltage transformers, transmission substations, and control centers are identified as being at the highest risk. Damage to these facilities is particularly concerning because the manufacturing and installation of replacement equipment can take up to two years. Digital control systems are also increasingly targeted by cyberattacks, acting as a vulnerable neural structure of the modern energy system. The report's presentation included officials like Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, who linked energy security directly to geopolitical stability. Drawing on the conflict in Ukraine, the report notes that the country has faced over 1,000 attacks on its energy infrastructure since the conflict began. This evidence suggests that power grids have become primary strategic targets in modern warfare.