The Friends of the Supergrid (FOSG) today welcomed four new members:

• Spain’s world leading civil engineering contractor ACS-Cobra
• Italy’s CESI, a globally recognised testing house for electromechanical equipment and power system studies and consultancy
• UK’s National Grid and
• France’s transmission system operator, RTE.

This brings to 17 the number of members of FOSG, which was launched in March 2010 to progress policy towards the construction of a pan-European Supergrid. Through the combination of their respective areas of expertise, FOSG members have unique insight into the policies needed to create the Supergrid and have the capability to deliver it in practice.

This expansion of FOSG follows last week’s statement by UK Prime Minister David Cameron supporting plans for a European Supergrid. The Prime Minister made the comments as part of the UK-Baltic-Nordic summit being held in London. He announced that the countries’ Energy Ministers will work together through the North Seas Offshore Grid Initiative and share experience with Ministers in the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP) to ensure planning, market, regulatory and technical challenges are overcome and the right framework created to support investment by industry in future projects.

FOSG’s CEO, Ana Aguado Cornago commented:” I am delighted to welcome our new members. The European Union is now taking the necessary steps to incentivise the development of Supergrid and together we have a critical role to play in accelerating the pace of process to start building by 2015. The publication of our proposal on the design, financing and regulation of the first phase of the European Supergrid in December last year is proof of our solid commitment.

The proposal is available to download at www.friendsofthesupergrid.eu

The FOSG is the only representative body that combines companies in sectors that will deliver the transmission infrastructure and related technology, together with companies that will develop, install, own and operate that infrastructure. It brings together the organisations that will design the physical equipment, with those who will build the structures at sea.

The founding members also include 3E, ALSTOM, CG Power Systems, DEME Blue Energy, Elia, Hochtief Construction AG, Mainstream Renewable Power, Nexans, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Prysmian Cables & Systems, Siemens, Visser & Smit Marine Contracting, and wpd offshore.

Quotes from the new members:

José Alfonso Nebrera, ACS-Cobra:

“ACS-Cobra, as a world leading EPC contractor of energy projects, is highly pleased to join Friends of the Supergrid. The main European companies, who can be the drivers of such a necessary but challenging infrastructure, are given here a chance to put their views together and work for the most efficient, economical and environmentally friendly way to deploy the Pan-European electricity highways. We share the idea with FOSG that a large-scale interconnection in Europe and its neighboring countries, particularly those in the Mediterranean Basin, is the best way to both integrate renewable sources of energy and create a real electricity market.

From our perspective, the Supergrid is essential for Europe to evolve towards a low-carbon economy; making good use of its advantages but avoiding or mitigating its inconveniences. In this process, and bearing in mind the actual Infrastructure Guidelines, we consider that giving a chance to private entities to invest is indispensable to develop such Infrastructures in the deadlines that History obliges us to.”

 Matteo Codazzi, CEO, CESI:

“We believe that the Supergrid can contribute to the efficiency, stability and sustainability of the European Electric System and we are enthusiastic about being part of this association.

The expertise that historically characterizes CESI in the electric transmission field will be shared within the whole group, thus contributing to reach the targets connected  with the renewable energy development.”

Nick Winser, Executive Director, Transmission, National Grid. 

“National Grid is very pleased to join Friends of the Supergrid at this crucial time for the whole energy industry as we face the challenge of building a low carbon future for Europe.  In particular, National Grid will be eager to work with FOSG colleagues to establish how we develop major new infrastructure now to achieve this goal and how we do so in a manner which coordinates effectively with the existing European transmission networks.”

Dominique Maillard, Chairman of the RTE Executive Board:

“At the heart of the European electricity market, the major power transmission networks  of the future will need to be smart, flexible and responsive to meet the challenge of energy transition.”