During the first International Conference on the Integration of Renewable Energy Sources and Distributed Energy Resources held in December 2004, industrial stakeholders and the research community suggested the creation of a Technology Platform for the Electricity Networks of the Future.

The European Commission Directorate General for Research developed the initial concept and guiding principles of the Technology Platform with the support of an existing FP5+6 research cluster (IRED -see www.ired-cluster.org-, Integration of Renewable Energies and Distributed Generation), which represents over 100 stakeholders in the electricity networks sector.

The SmartGrids European Technology Platform for Electricity Networks of the Future began its work in 2005. Its aim was to formulate and promote a vision for the development of European electricity networks looking towards 2020 and beyond.

A first outline concept and tentative structure of the Platform is proposed in this document.

The main elements are the following:

SCOPE. The initial scope of the Platform aims at increasing the efficiency, safety and reliability of European electricity transmission and distribution systems and removing obstacles to the large-scale integration of distributed and renewable energy sources, in line with the proposed priority for Smart Energy Networks in FP7.

STRUCTURE. The Platform should be open and accessible, allowing the participation of all active stakeholders. The structure should reflect the diverse and complementary activities which will be undertaken by the Platform, and be such as to ensure that initiatives are taken forward in an active and dynamic manner. It is recommended that the Technology Platform should be steered and monitored by an Advisory Council, which should provide guidance on the definition, initiation and putting in place of the structure, procedures and work programme.

DELIVERABLES. The first deliverable of the Platform should be a Strategic Research Agenda for this area, which should be ready at the end of 2006. Other deliverables will be determined by the Advisory Council.

Download Vision and Strategy for European Electricity Networks of the future for more information (.PDF, 1.47 MB)

Benefits  

The projects resulting from the SmartGrids vision will stimulate innovation in new network and associated information technologies. The benefits of new technologies will have a positive effect for European citizens and for international business. Job opportunities will be broadened as the networks require workers with new skills and integration across new technology areas.

SmartGrids will help achieve sustainable development. Links will be strengthened across Europe and with other countries where different but complementary renewable resources are to be found. An increasingly liberalised market will encourage trading opportunities to be identified and developed. SmartGrids networks will, in addition to electricity flows, establish a two-way flow of information between supplier and user.

For a successful transition to a future sustainable energy system all the relevant stakeholders must become involved: governments, regulators, consumers, generators, traders, power exchanges, transmission companies, distribution companies, power equipment manufactures and ICT providers. Coordination at regional, national and European levels is essential and the SmartGrids Technology Platform has been designed to facilitate this process.

Objectives  

The platform has agreed its initial objectives and is committed to bringing forward relevant high quality research, combined with mechanisms, to mobilise the private and public investments required for the implementation of the RTD strategies.

In this respect, integrated research and demonstration projects in electricity networks are envisaged, as these are key to a successful adoption strategy in the industrial context of an increasingly liberalised and competitive market.

Concrete objectives:

- To develop a shared vision for the future which encourages the engagement of multiple, independent parties;

- To identify research needs and build support for an increased public and private researcheffort on electricity networks;

- To align ongoing RTD projects and new European, national and regional programmes on electricity transmission and distribution systems;

- To draw conclusions and recommendations for follow-up actions and implementation of the strategic research agenda and deployment plan.

Structure  

The Platform is open and accessible, allowing the participation of all active stakeholders. The structure reflects the diverse and complementary activities which will be undertaken by the Platform, and it ensures that initiatives are taken forward in an active and dynamic manner.

The Technology Platform is steered and monitored by an Advisory Council (AC), nominated in May 2005, which provides guidance on the definition, initiation and putting in place of the structure, procedures and work programme. The Advisory Council decided to set up an Executive Group (EG) which proposes to the AC the initiatives to lead the Platform in its initial steps (see members of the Executive Group).

Current members of the Mirror Group (MG) include representatives from 19 countries thus enabling the involvement of Member States, candidate countries and associate countries.

There are currently four Working Groups (WGs) which take responsibility for progressing the work at a detailed level.

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