Supergrid is the only way to optimize the energy mix in Europe, integrate renewable energy and achieve 2030 EU climate and energy goals, says new report from FOSG.

The Friends of the Supergrid (FOSG) has today published a report (“ Supergrid preparatory phase: review of existing studies and recommendations ”) on the preparatory phase of an integrated pan-European network. The report reviews existing literature addressing the design of a European Supergrid and proposes recommendations to move forward. The report reinforces the need for an EU single electricity market underpinned by significant amounts of interconnection to deliver 2030 climate and energy goals.

Ana Aguado, CEO of FOSG said: “Today’s conclusions of the EU Council make it clear that a 2030 energy and climate package must contain clear goals for interconnection. This report sets out how to start getting there”.

In its report, FOSG shows that although several existing studies address specific issues such as greenhouse gas targets modelling, scenarios envisaging a substantial share of RES generation or a full decarbonisation of the European power system, a thorough investigation dealing with all topics to foster implementation of the Supergrid is still missing. Several studies tackle the cost-benefit analysis associated to the new transmission infrastructures, but not in a comprehensive way covering all the market, technical and environmental indicators. The same can be applied to the evaluation of the cross-border cost allocation.

Supergrid will require a European regulatory framework to deliver a fair allocation of investments costs and to allow cross-border balancing. The introduction of pan-European mechanisms for cross-border balancing coordinated with the day-ahead and infra-day power markets is an urgent action that needs to be addressed now with the highest priority.

The impact of a significant amount of new renewable generation on the dispatching of current generation, and on the use of storage needs further analysis at an EU level. This is to ensure an adequate level of security of supply and also to identify possible critical situations in the generation mix and in grid infrastructures.

 Full report available at http://supergrid.brussels/fosg-report-on-the-preparatory-phase-of-a-supergrid-3/