As demand for grid connections grows—from data centres to renewables—queues are lengthening, posing a real challenge to Europe’s digital and energy transitions. This panel explores how digital tools can ease grid congestion and accelerate connections. What role can capacity maps, predictive modelling, and advanced grid planning play in streamlining the process? How can digitalisation enable smarter prioritisation, quicker approvals, and better coordination between developers and grid operators? From a policy perspective, how will the new EU guidance on grid connections reshape current practices—and is it time to move beyond the first-come-first-served model?