The EU internal electricity market: Done forever?

•It took a quarter-century to build Europe's internal market for electricity.•The EU internal market may derail greatly in the coming years.•Reasons are a massive push for renewables and decentralization.•Member States implement uncoordinated national policies.•A serious concern is a (re-)fragmentation of the European electricity market.

Taking a quarter-century to build Europe's internal market for electricity may seem an incredibly long journey. The aim of achieving a European-wide market might be reached, but we went through – and should continue to go through – a process subject to many adverse dynamics. The EU internal market may derail greatly in the coming years from the effects of a massive push for renewables, as well as a growing decentralization of the production–consumption loop. Moreover, a serious concern is the risk of a definitive fragmentation of the European electricity market due to uncoordinated national moves with respect to renewable support and capacity mechanisms.