Acer

ENTSO-E Annual Report 2019 released

01.08.2020

For transmission system operators (TSOs), Regional Security Coordinators (RSCs), and other players in the energy market alike, last year was marked above all by the entry into force of the EU “Clean Energy for all Europeans Package” (CEP). Actually, the TSOs and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) were still in the process of implementing the Third Energy Package, but work on meeting the requirements of the CEP has already commenced in 2019.

This is also reflected in the recently published ENTSO-E Annual Report 2019, which describes activities related to the legal mandates given to ENTSO-E. The report divides these activities into seven chapters: 1. System Operation; 2. Market; 3. System Development; 4. Transparency Regulation; 5. Research, Development and Innovation; 6. Cybersecurity, Interoperability and Data; 7. TSO-DSO partnership and demand side flexibility.

Prior to its release, the Annual Report was subject to a public consultation with stakeholders from 22 June to 20 July 2020, whereupon the comments received were taken into account and the Annual Report was submitted to the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).

ENTSO-E has published its Annual Report 2019 (picture: ENTSO-E)

Linkup
> See ENTSO-E press release (html)
> Visit ENTSO-E Annual Report 2019 site (html)
> Open Annual Report 2019 (pdf, 6.7MB)

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TSOs of the Central SOR submit RCC proposal

29.07.2020

The EU Regulation on the internal electricity market (2019/943) calls for a higher degree of coordination between transmission system operators (TSOs) at regional level. This is to be achieved through the establishment of Regional Coordination Centres (RCCs). Regulation 2019/943 provides that the future RCCs will act more autonomously in terms of risk prevention than the current Regional Security Coordinators (RSCs) like the Munich based TSCNET Services. On 6 April 2020, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) published a decision on the geographical scope of the RCCs (ACER Decision 10/2020) and defined the so-called System Operation Regions (SORs). The TSOs of each SOR were invited to submit a proposal on the establishment of RCCs to the relevant national regulatory authorities (NRAs).

The 19 TSOs of the Central SOR – including all TSCNET shareholders except the non-EU TSO Swissgrid from Switzerland and also three TSCNET customers – now have submitted their joint proposal for the RCC establishment in accordance with Article 35 of Regulation (EU) 2019/943. It was published by the German Federal Network Agency (“Bundesnetzagentur“).  The TSOs’ suggestion is to develop existing RSCs into RCCs by adapting them to comply with the requirements of the EU Regulation. The TSOs are of the opinion that despite their increased autonomy, the future RCCs should have their grid stability measures confirmed by the TSOs. The respective TSOs concerned should be able to carry out reviews where appropriate and to oppose RCC measures on well-founded reasons. This requires an intensive exchange of information between RCCs and TSOs.

The paper proposes working agreements and service contracts as basis for the TSO-RCC cooperation. The core tasks of the RCCs should remain those of the RSCs, such as security analysis, outage planning coordination, capacity calculation, adequacy forecasts, or grid modelling. In addition, the RCCs should assist TSOs in identifying transmission system extension and modernisation priorities. RCCs should also be involved in assessing the extent to which foreign capacity may participate in national capacity mechanisms. A proposal from the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E), which is still pending, shall define which tasks the RCCs will perform in determining regional reserve capacity and in the regional procurement of balancing power.

The 19 TSOs of the Central SOR have published a joint proposal on the establishment of RCCs (picture: ENTSO-E)

Linkup
> Open Joint TSO proposal, in German (pdf, 535kb)
> Open ACER decision 10/2020 (pdf, 267.6kb)
> Access to EU-Regulation 2019/943 (html)

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ACER PCI Report: some delays with less rescheduling

10.07.2020

Europe-wide, there are currently 106 Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) for electricity in the implementation stage. PCIs are identified by the EU as a priority for interconnecting the infrastructure of the continental energy system and are considered worthy of public funding. The European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) annually evaluates these projects, together with the PCIs for gas (currently 32), for progress, delays, or rescheduling. This year’s “Consolidated Report on the progress of electricity and gas PCIs”, the sixth edition in total, has been published on 9 July.

The report covers the period from 1 February 2019 to 31 January 2020. Of the electricity projects, 79% were already included in the previous list. The ACER report provides an overview of the progress or the lack of progress in the implementation of the PCIs. It does not, however, contain an analysis of the possibilities for facilitating implementation, which would require a more in-depth analysis. To evaluate the status and progress of the respective PCIs, ACER verifies, among other things, the completeness and quality of the transmitted data and whether the projects have been included in the relevant network development plans.

The main result can be summarised as that delays are still very much in evidence – 27% of electricity PCIs are affected – but rescheduling has decreased. As public funding is easier to obtain for PCIs, there is a strong interest in infrastructure projects being classified as such. In this regard, ACER advises the project developers not to concentrate their efforts too much on the inclusion in the list and thus neglect the much more decisive matters like quality planning, permitting, and securing non-subsidised financing.

ACER has published the 2020 “Consolidated Report on the progress of electricity and gas PCIs”

Linkup
> See ACER press release (html)
> Open Consolidated PCI Report (pdf, 1.05MB)

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RDI Roadmap and TYNDP 2020: consultation and webinars

30.06.2020

The Ten-Year Network Development Plans (TYNDPs) are biennial publications of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) and for Gas (ENTSOG). The TYNDPs are considered by the European Commission (EC) when selecting Projects of Common Interest (PCIs). ENTSO-E and ENTSOG are obliged to develop scenarios for the TYNDPs, and in the case of TYNDP 2020, the two organisations have worked together on these scenarios for the second time. The scenarios should not only identify the future demand for electricity and gas infrastructures and projects, but also survey and assess the interactions in a hybrid energy system between the gas and electricity sectors.

The ENTSOs now have presented the final version of the scenarios. The supply and demand data collected by the member transmission system operators (TSOs) for gas and electricity are used to create the central “National Trends” scenario, which reflects the national energy and climate plans of individual member states and recognises the EU climate targets. The “Global Ambition” and “Distributed Energy” scenarios are designed as comprehensive energy scenarios in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. They also consider the EU-27 efforts to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. Laurent Schmitt, Secretary General of ENTSO-E, defines these scenarios as “a comprehensive, reliable and contrasted set of possible energy futures that will allow ENTSO-E and ENTSOG to perform a sound assessment of European infrastructure projects in the TYNDPs”.

There is another ENTSO-E project related to the European Green Deal and its goal of climate neutrality by 2050, and that is the Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Roadmap 2020-2030. In line with the requirements of the EU Clean Energy Package, the RDI Roadmap combines the opportunities offered by technological trends, the needs of TSOs related to grid operation and market development, and the input from the policy objectives of the EC and other stakeholders.

The Roadmap identifies three major areas for RDI – Integrated Systems, Power Grid, and Cyber Physical System – and six European innovation flagships addressing them: cross-sector integration, deep electrification, grid use and development for a pan-EU market, large-scale offshore wind energy integration, secure operation of a widespread hybrid AC/DC grid, and control centre operations and interoperability. It is understood that TSOs in the electricity sector act as catalysts for committed and flexible innovation strategies and that they have already demonstrated their determination to coordinate individual efforts to implement the Green Deal and related policies.

The ENTSO-E RDI Roadmap 2020-2030 is open for consultation until 10 August and will then be submitted to the European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) for its opinion. ENTSO-E will organise webinars on both, Roadmap and TYNDP Scenarios, on 2 July and 3 July, respectively.

ENTSO-E has opened a consultation on the RDI Roadmap 2020-2030 and is organising webinars on the Roadmap as well as on the TYNDP 2020 Scenarios (picture: ENTSO-E)

Linkup
> See ENTSO-E press release on TYNDP Scenarios (html)
> See ENTSO-E press release on RDI Roadmap (html)
> Visit TYNDP 2020 Scenario website (html)
> Open TYNDP 2020 Scenario Report (pdf, 7.28MB)
> Open RDI Roadmap (pdf, 4.83MB)
> Access to RDI Roadmap consultation (html)
> Register for Scenario webinar (html)
> Register for Roadmap webinar (html)

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Virtual InnoGrid focuses on Green Deal

19.06.2020

Grid innovators usually meet once a year in Brussels to participate in InnoGrid2020+, the European event for research, development, and innovation (RDI) in the field of power transmission. Despite the continued commitment of the European transmission system operators (TSOs) to RDI and the energy transition during the Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s Innogrid2020+ must be conducted virtually. The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) and the European Distribution System Operators’ association (EDSO) have thus organised two InnoGrid webinars to showcase the latest innovations and to present some of the key research and development projects in Europe. The first webinar, attended by 350 people, took place on 18 June, and the second will follow on 30 June (11-13 CET).

The motto of the online events is: “Why power networks innovation is key for bringing the European Green Deal from promise to practice”. The first webinar provided ideas and projects that help to make the Green Deal a reality, especially by facilitating the integration of renewable energies. In addition to technical approaches and projects, political and regulatory framework conditions were also discussed. In his assessment of the development from an ENTSO-E perspective, Uroš Salobir, Director of the Strategic Innovation Department at TSCNET shareholder ELES, the Slovenian TSO, and ENTSO-E Vice Chair of the RDI Committee, commented: “The future energy system will be a system of interconnected systems, with deeper electrification and smart sector integration. In this future, electricity becomes a dominant vector and system operators, key facilitators.” On behalf of European TSOs, Mr Salobir concluded: “We stand ready to support the European green recovery especially through innovation and developing the cyber-physical system.”

Reservations for the second session on 30 June are still welcome. Among other topics, Michela Marasco, Policy Officer-DG Energy at the European Commission, will speak on the RDI dimension of the Green Deal. Jan Kostevc, Infrastructure Regulation Officer at the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), will focus on innovations from the efficiency perspective and Hakon Borgen, Chair of the ENTSO-E RDI Committee, will present the ENTSO-E RDI Roadmap 2020-2030.

This year’s InnoGrid2020+ on the relevance of grid innovation for the European Green Deal is held as a webinar 

Linkup
> See ENTSO-E press release (html)
> See Innogrid2020+ website, with access to registration and presentations (html)

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ACER defines System Operation Regions

08.04.2020

To promote the implementation of the EU Regulation on the internal electricity market (2019/943), which is part of the “Clean Energy Package for all Europeans”, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has just published an important decision. A significant part of the EU Regulation 2019/943 is Article 36 on the “Geographical scope of Regional Coordination Centres (RCCs)” and this is the very subject of the recent ACER decision, that defines this “geographical scope” – the so-called System Operation Regions (SORs).

Regulation 2019/943 calls for a higher level of coordination between transmission system operators (TSOs) at regional level. This is to be achieved by further developing Regional Security Coordinators (RSCs) such as TSCNET Services into RCCs. The ACER definition of the SORs is the first step towards establishing the RCCs. The tasks of the RCCs are defined in Article 37 of the EU Regulation. Like RSCs, they are to identify and assess potential risks in support of the respective TSO in their area of responsibility. However, while RSCs leave the responsibility for implementing these recommendations to the TSOs, Article 37 provides for future RCCs to act more autonomously in terms of risk prevention.

Acer stresses that, despite some changes, it has broadly agreed to the proposal for the definition of SORs made by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) on behalf of the TSOs, which in particular takes into account the synchronous areas in the meshed European grid. The next step will be taken by the TSOs of each SOR, which are invited to submit a proposal on the establishment of RCCs to the relevant national regulatory authority (NRA) by 5 July.

ACER has published its decision on the configuration of the future SORs (picture showing ACER Director Christian Zinglersen at the Bonn Climate Change Conference (IISD))

Linkup
> See ACER press release (html)
> Open ACER decision 10/2020 (pdf, 267,58kb)
> Access to EU-Regulation 2019/943 (html)

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ACER consultations on balancing market

20.02.2020

A core component of the European Energy Union is the integration of the national balancing markets into a pan-European market. To promote this essential objective, the European Commission Regulation establishing a Guideline for Electricity Balancing became effective in December 2017. The European transmission system operator (TSOs) are expected to work proactively towards this goal and have since responded to this expectation with transnational cooperation, proposals, innovative concepts and their implementation.

The Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) launched two public consultations on methodologies in line with the respective EU regulation. The first consultation concerns the way for establishing a list of standard products for capacity balancing of frequency restoration reserves and replacement reserves. This methodology provides the rules for efficient cross-border exchange, sharing and procurement of reserves. The second deals with the methodology for establishing a co-optimised allocation process of cross-zonal capacity for the exchange of balancing capacity or sharing of reserves. All interested parties are invited to submit their comments by 10 March 2020.

Before the results of the two consultations are published, ACER will organise a workshop in its premises in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana on 26 February. This workshop will give stakeholders an insight into the procedures related to these consultations and into the discussions between ACER, the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and the TSOs.

ACER has launched two public consultations on methodologies for the integration of balancing markets (picture of Europe from space by Alexander Gerst, ESA/NASA)

Linkup
> See ACER press release (html)
> Direct access to 1st consultation (html)
> Direct access to 2nd consultation (html)
> Visit ACER workshop webpage (html)

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ENTSO-E presents Annual Work Programme 2020

19.02.2020

The European network codes and guidelines as well as the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package pose considerable challenges for European transmission system operators (TSOs). It is thus not only reasonable for the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), but also mandatory under an EU regulation to propose an Annual Work Programme outlining the main TSO tasks.

Having been consulted by stakeholders and reviewed by the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) – the opinion of ACER was received on 7 February – the Annual Work Programme 2020 has now been published by ENTSO-E. The priorities set in the ENTSO-E programme are consistent with the objective of the European Council to complete the internal electricity market and the three-year plan for the work on network codes.

In the programme, ENTSO-E recognises an enhanced role of TSOs in the significant updating of the European electricity market design. Furthermore, the creation of a pan-European IT architecture for electricity is seen as one of the main drivers for the energy transition. In this respect, the Common Grid Model is a precondition for, inter alia, coordinated capacity calculation, operational security analysis, outage planning coordination, and adequacy analysis.

ENTSO-E has released the Annual Work Programme 2020 (picture: ENTSO-E)

Linkup
> See ENTSO-E press release (html)
> Visit ENTSO-E Annual Work Programme site (html)
> Open Annual Work Programme 2020 (pdf, 2.83MB)
> Open ACER opinion (pdf, 170.7kB)

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TERRE platform launched

07.01.2020

The project “Trans European Replacement Reserves Exchange” (TERRE) is dedicated to implementing the exchange of replacement reserves (RRs) under the EU guideline on electricity balancing. The objective of TERRE is to establish the European RR balancing energy market via an RR platform and to create uniform conditions for market participants. TERRE has been confirmed by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) as the European platform for the exchange of balancing energy from RRs and is closely monitored by national regulatory authorities and the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).

TERRE involves eight European transmission system operators (TSOs). The three TSCNET shareholders ČEPS from the Czech Republic, PSE from Poland and Swissgrid from Switzerland are complemented by RTE (France), National Grid (United Kingdom), Terna (Italy), REN (Portugal) and Red Eléctrica de Espaňa (Spain). A further six TSOs with observer status include the TSCNET shareholders MAVIR from Hungary and Transelectrica from Romania.

The TERRE platform was launched on 6 January 2020. The platform ensures cost-effective balancing energy with service availability within 30 minutes in a European setting. ČEPS was the first TSO to connect to the platform, and is currently also the only one. Further members will follow. “The launch of TERRE represents the completion of several years of effort, from defining business rules to developing an IT solution to testing the system with market participants in Europe,” explains Zbyněk Boldiš, Member of ČEPS’ Board of Directors.

The TERRE platform for the balancing of replacement energy reserves has been successfully launched (picture showing Zbyněk Boldiš, Member of ČEPS’ Board of Directors)

Linkup
> See ČEPS press release (html)
> Visit ENTSO-E’s TERRE website (html)

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TSO proposals on capacity balancing submitted

20.12.2019

In December 2017, the European Commission Regulation establishing a guideline for electricity balancing came into force. The European transmission system operators (TSOs) were given two years to prepare two proposals aimed at promoting market integration through the procurement and use of standard products for capacity balancing in an efficient, economic and market-based manner. Considering feedback from stakeholders, public consultations and workshops, these two proposals have now been submitted by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) to the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).

The “Proposal for a methodology for co-optimised allocation process of cross-zonal capacity for the exchange of balancing capacity or sharing of reserve” specifies how cross-zonal capacity should be allocated in a single optimisation process to bids for energy exchange as well as for the exchange of balancing energy or the sharing of reserves. The process suggested involves contracting on a day-ahead basis and meets the requirements of the “Clean Energy for All Europeans Package”.

The “Proposal for a list of standard products for balancing capacity for frequency restoration reserves and replacement reserves” details the minimum harmonisation criteria for the exchange of balancing capacity set by all TSOs. To respect the specific conditions of each region, additional characteristics may be defined and harmonised by two or more TSOs deciding to jointly provide balancing capacity.

ENTSO-E stresses that substantial work still needs to be done on the implementation and application of these proposals. Close interaction between neighbouring TSOs is essential for the establishment of balancing capacity cooperation.

ENTSO-E has submitted two TSO proposals on capacity balancing to ACER (picture showing Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia and home of ACER)

Linkup
> See ENTSO-E press release, html
> Open Proposal for for co-optimised allocation (pdf, 269.4kB)
> Open Proposal for a list of standard products (pdf, 234.6kB)
> Visit ENTSO-E’s electricity balancing regulation website (html)

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