“We need strong investment signals for grid operators to invest in innovative grid technologies that can increase grid capacity in the next 1-2 years”
This was the statement issued by the Secretary General of currENT Europe, Layla Sawyer, during currENT’s participation in a EUSEW panel, titled “Supporting investments for a more digitalised electricity grid”.
This EUSEW session aimed at bringing together network operators, regulatory authorities and technology and solution providers to discuss the concrete steps needed to provide clear investment signals that foster innovation and digitalisation of the electricity system.
Discussions such as these are considered paramount by the European Union, primarily due to achieving the goals of the European Commission’s EU Green Deal and RePowerEU, which will rely heavily on innovative solutions to be used and provided by TSOs, DSOs, manufacturers, providers and utilities, and any innovative solution, which is increasingly digital.
During the panel, the discussion centred around fostering the uptake of innovative digital solutions, especially by network operators, therefore enhancing the efficiency and smartness of the electricity grid, which is one of the main objectives of the Digitalisation of Energy Action Plan, to provide clear investment signals – from research and innovation to market uptake – for an investment pathway targeting the energy and digital value chain.
The panel was attended by both currENT’s own Secretary General Layla, Sawyer, but also by Peter Vermaat, Secretary General, EU DSO Entity; Norela Constantinescu, Head of Section Innovation, European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E); Yann Fromont, President, T&D Europe; Jan Kostevc, Team leader, Gas and Retail (IRG) Department, ACER; Vincent Berrutto, Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER), European Commission. The discussion panel was moderated by Peter Palensky, Professor and Director of Institute TU Delft in the Netherlands.
If you wish to view the full-panel discussion, you can view it on the following video –