SuperNode, as part of trade association currENT, has submitted its response to the European Commission’s proposal for revisions of the guidelines for trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E). The TEN-E framework is significant as it is the most important EU instrument to develop an integrated European electricity infrastructure.
The Commission is revising the TEN-E Guidelines to make them compatible with the European Union’s more ambitious climate and energy targets and the Green Deal’s 2050 climate neutrality objective.
Despite substantial improvements to the framework, currENT does not believe that the proposal will be sufficient to deliver the necessary infrastructure investments in time. If the EU is to achieve its 2050 climate targets, a broader, more innovative energy system is required.
While there can be positivity drawn from the introductory language of the proposal, it is often undercut by its omission from the actual articles themselves. Per the currENT submission:
“…TEN-E guidelines contain promising language on the need for offshore infrastructure and innovation in grid technology. However, some of the most important language in the recitals, e.g. (18) and (41), on the need for offshore grid innovation could be better reflected in the articles of the proposal”
Another key area for improvement identified by currENT is the promotion of innovation in grid infrastructure.
“Innovation funding for new transmission technologies must be expanded beyond the TSOs to the private sector. Meanwhile, more political support is needed for utilities to facilitate development of new technologies from TRL6 to TRL9 “sand boxes” and / or other incentives where needed, and TSO’s must be incentivised to engage in external R&D partnerships to facilitate demonstration and deployment of innovative network technologies”
currENT also expressed the need for a reorganisation of the governance structure in the offshore space. A restructuring is necessary to ensure there is enough grid infrastructure to accommodate the €800 billion investment into offshore renewables that the Commission estimates is necessary for the EU to decarbonise.
“currENT is advocating for a single European coordinating entity to plan and coordinate the deployment of offshore renewables and offshore grid infrastructure….since there are no existing grids offshore, there is no existing rigid institutional and regulatory setup that needs to change and, secondly, it would minimise any green premium associated with decarbonisation……The new entity must be independent of asset ownership,” according to currENT.
currENT Vice President and SuperNode CEO John Fitzgerald said:
“The Commission must ensure that infrastructure planning starts looking beyond the 10-year plans and preparing Europe for a fully integrated, high-tech, carbon-free energy system in 2050. The Commission must be commended for its stronger regional approach to offshore grid development. However, the proposal does not fully recognise that a European challenge of this magnitude requires a truly European solution. A new European entity, independent of asset ownership, designing tomorrow’s offshore grid infrastructure, could be such a solution.”
The European Commission’s proposal is now being negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council.
You can read the full submission here.
CurrENT is an industry association that represents the voice of Europe’s innovative grid technology companies. For more information visit their website here.