Call for action on Europe’s grids

Over 80 action points are due to be implemented on Europe’s grids from legislations and action plans, energy think tank Ember has found.

In recommendations on Europe’s grid policy framework for the incoming EU Energy Commissioner, Ember points to the rapidly growing importance of expanding and modernising the region’s electricity grid infrastructure as it strives for energy self-sufficiency through deploying home-grown renewables and stepping up electrification.

However, while the last two years have seen huge progress on grid policy in response to urgent stress signals in the form of congestion, renewables curtailment and long grid connection queues, review of both legislative and non-legislative policy indicates that implementation efforts are needed at all levels, from European institutions to national and regional contexts.

These policies include the revised electricity market legislation and renewable energy directive and the action plans for grids and for digitalising the energy system.

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The majority of the actions related to grids fall under the responsibility of the EC, Ember reports. While a number of these have specified target dates for completion, particularly those in the grid action plan, many do not, which risks them not being carried out in a timely manner.

Some actions, many of them intended for relatively fast implementation for near-term impact, have been assigned for other EU entities including the DSO Entity, ENTSO-E, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the High-Level Forum on European Standardization.

Some have already been completed, such as best practices for distribution network development plans published by the DSO Entity.

Actions particularly from revised electricity market and renewable energy legislation for member states are aimed largely at the national regulatory agencies and the TSOs and DSOs.

Implementing national reforms is critical to effectively overcome major barriers to Europe’s grids, Ember states.

Grid policy recommendations

Ember offers three recommendations for the incoming Commissioner.

1. Establish a dedicated ‘Future grids’ task force within the EC to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the assigned actions. This task force should develop a roadmap for their execution and coordinate across the relevant directorate-generals as well as support and monitor the implementation of national policies and support enabling key infrastructure projects.

2. Establish a one-stop-shop at EU level to improve access to financing for grid projects by simplifying the process and reducing the administrative burden as well as facilitating connections between grid operators and financing institutions. The entity also could provide input to EC and EIB on ways to de-risk initiatives, mobilise private funding and identify new financial tools and instruments

3. Develop a technical toolbox to support and accelerate the digitalisation of distribution grids by DSOs. A two-stage approach is proposed, with targeted funding for pilot projects on grid digitalisation across various regions, out of which a comprehensive toolbox of best practices, interoperability technologies and standardisation guidelines that can be scaled across the EU would be developed.