Elia Group, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, is one of Europe's largest and most forward-thinking transmission system operators (TSOs). Operating the high-voltage grids in Belgium (Elia Transmission Belgium) and Germany (50Hertz Transmission), the publicly listed company manages critical infrastructure that underpins the electricity supply for tens of millions of people. In 2024, Elia Group reported revenues of €1.85 billion, reflecting its significant scale and operational reach. The company employs between 1,000 and 5,000 professionals dedicated to ensuring grid reliability while facilitating the integration of ever-increasing volumes of renewable energy.
Elia Group stands out as a smart grid pioneer through its dedicated innovation arm, which explores technologies ranging from AI-driven grid optimisation and drone-based asset inspection to advanced weather resilience modelling. In July 2025, Elia co-founded the Innovation Alliance — a coalition of eight leading European TSOs committed to developing shared solutions for boosting grid resilience, efficiency, and technological advancement. The Alliance's first programme, 'Weather and Grid Resilience', directly addresses the operational risks posed by increasingly unpredictable climate events. Through its subsidiary Elia Grid International (EGI), the group also exports its smart grid expertise to countries beyond Europe, advising on grid development and market design. Elia Group's combination of operational scale, innovation ambition, and collaborative ethos makes it a model for how transmission operators can lead the smart grid transformation.