European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity

European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity
Abbreviation ENTSO-E
Predecessor ETSO, UCTE, NORDEL, ATSOI, UKTSOA, BALTSO
Formation 19 December 2008 (2008-12-19) (3 years ago)
Type association
Purpose/focus to promote important aspects of energy policy in the face of significant challenges
Headquarters Avenue de Cortenbergh 100
Location Brussels, Belgium
Region served Europe
Membership transmission system operators
Secretary General Konstantin Staschus
President Daniel Dobbeni
Vice President Jukka Ruusunen
Chairman of the Board Graeme Steele
Main organ Assembly
Website www.entsoe.eu

The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) is an association of Europe's transmission system operators (TSOs) for electricity. It is a successor of ETSO, the association of European transmission system operators founded in 1999 in response to the emergence of the internal electricity market within the European Union.

Contents

History

On 27 June 2008, 36 European electricity transmission system operators (TSO) signed in Prague a declaration of intent to create the ENTSO-E.[1] The ENTSO-E was established on 19 December 2008 in Brussels by 42 TSOs as a successor of six regional associations of the electricity transmission system operators.[2][3] The ENTSO-E became operational on 1 July 2009. The former associations ETSO, ATSOI, UKTSOA, NORDEL, UCTE and BALTSO became a part of the ENTSO-E, while still offering data by their predecessors for public interest.[4]

Objectives

Creation of the ENTSO-E was initiated by the adoption of the European Union third legislative package on the gas and electricity markets.[1] In 2003, the European Commission conducted a sector inquiry concerning the competition of electricity market in six European countries.[5] Examining competition in these countries, the final report stated serious issues to be solved.[6] It was noticed that the integration between member state's markets is still insufficient. Additionally, the absence of transparently available market information was assessed.[5] As a result, the third legislative package on the EU gas and electricity markets was adopted by the European Commission in September 2007.[7]

Main tasks

Objectives

Members

The ENTSO-E now contains 42 TSOs from 34 countries, which now share an interconnected transmission grid in the EU.[15]

ISO country code Country TSO Abbr.
AT Austria TIWAG Netz  ???
AT Austria Verbund - Austrian Power Grid APG
AT Austria VKW-Netz
BE Belgium Elia System Operator
BS Bosnia Herzegovina ISO BiH
BG Bulgaria Electroenergien Sistemen Operator
HR Croatia Hrvatska elektroprivreda HEP-OPS
CY Cyprus Cyprus Transmission System Operator Cyprus TSO
CZ Czech Republic ČEPS
DK Denmark Energinet.dk
EE Estonia Elering
FI Finland Fingrid
FR France Réseau de Transport d'Électricité RTE
DE Germany EnBW Transportnetze EnBW TNG
DE Germany Tennet TSO TTG
DE Germany Amprion
DE Germany 50Hertz Transmission 50Hertz
GR Greece Hellenic Transmission System Operator HTSO
HU Hungary MAVIR
IS Iceland Landsnet
IE Ireland EirGrid
IT Italy Terna
LV Latvia Augstsprieguma tīkls
LT Lithuania Litgrid
LU Luxembourg Creos Luxembourg
MK Republic of Macedonia MEPSO
ME Montenegro AD Prenos
NL Netherlands TenneT
NO Norway Statnett
PL Poland PSE-Operator
PT Portugal Redes Energéticas Nacionais REN
RO Romania Transelectrica
RS Serbia JP Elektromreža Srbije
SK Slovak Republic SEPS
SI Slovenia Elektro-Slovenija ELES
ES Spain Red Eléctrica de España REE
SE Sweden Svenska Kraftnät
CH Switzerland swissgrid
GB United Kingdom National Grid plc National Grid
GB United Kingdom System Operator for Northern Ireland SONI
GB United Kingdom Scottish and Southern Energy SSE
GB United Kingdom Scottish Power Transmission plc SPTransmission

Regional structure

ENTSO-E is divided into five regional groups, which derive from the historic background of the former associations.

Continental Europe

The regional group of Continental Europe includes the members of the former Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE). The UCTE was founded in 1951 as the Union for the Coordination of Production and Transmission of Electricity consisting of an interconnected companies from Switzerland, France and Germany. Over the time, most of TSOs of Continental Europe joined the association. In 1999, UCTE re-defined itself as an association of TSOs. Before merging to ENTSO-E, UCTE represented 29 transmission system operators of 24 countries operating the synchronous grid of Continental Europe.[16]

Ireland

The region of Ireland consists of EirGrid and System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI), the members of the former Association of the Transmission System Operators of Ireland (ATSOI).[17]

United Kingdom

The region of the United Kingdom consists of the TSOs of the United Kingdom, a members of the UK Transmission System Operators Association (UKTSOA).[18]

Nordic

The Nordic region consists of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Eastern Denmark, the members of the former Nordic TSO association NORDEL. NORDEL was founded in 1963 for co-operation between the TSOs of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden for a further development of an harmonized Nordic electricity market.[19]

Baltic

The Baltic region consists of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Before creation of the ENTSO-E, the Baltic TSOs were members of the Baltic Transmission System Operators association (BALTSO). BALTSO was founded on 30 March 2006.[20]

Frequency

In order to ensure a working European power grid, the operating frequency is defined by a standard of 50 hertz. As electric generation and consumption differs, the power transmission grid has to be balanced. There should be the same amount of input and output. Nevertheless changes in the frequency may occur if supply or demand exceeds its counterpart. In case of too much supply the frequency will increase, while in case of too much demand it will decrease. The main task is to keep the frequencies of all five synchronous areas balanced around the 50 hertz standard to ensure a safe power supply.[21]

Electronic data interchange

An open European electricity market needs a considerable electronic data interchange between all market participants in order to improve the coordination between different inter-country systems. The aim of the ENTSO-E is to offer all participants the necessary information of the existing EDI standards and their specifications. In association with ebiX and EFET (European Federation of Energy Traders) ENTSO-E maintains a Harmonised role model for the European electricity market.[22]

System development

The ENTSO-E will publish a ten-year network development statement, which ought to ensure the reliability and security of electric energy supply in Europe. An adequate grid should be available for the functioning of the European electricity market. The committee will introduce technical rules and standards related to the planning of transmission systems and new technical concepts within R&D-activities. Furthermore it will focus on facilitating the exchange of information about efficient asset management, system technology and critical infrastructure protection among members. In order to fulfill its duties and tasks, the committee will investigate and develop long-term and medium-term system extension strategies, draw system studies and collect data relevant for system development.[23]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b "TSOs for electricity are founding new association" (Press release). ENTSO-E. 1 July 2008. http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=42&tx_ttnews%5BpS%5D=1260881300&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=3&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=25&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=214&cHash=c14bdb7c51. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
  2. ^ "TSOs for electricity have founded a new association" (Press release). ENTSO-E. 19 December 2008. http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=42&tx_ttnews%5BpS%5D=1260881300&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=3&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=24&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=214&cHash=43195ba1dc. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
  3. ^ "European TSOs established new organisation ENTSO-E" (Press release). Statnett. 19 December 2008. http://www.statnett.no/en/News/News-archive-Temp/News-archive-2008/European-TSOs-established-new-organisation-ENTSO-E/. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
  4. ^ "ENTSO-E, fully operational as of 1 July, welcomes the adoption of the EU's 3rd energy package" (Press release). ENTSO-E. 1 July 2009. http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=42&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=6&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=43&cHash=e16118187a. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
  5. ^ a b "Inquiry pursuant to Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003". European Commission. 2005. http://ec.europa.eu/competition/sectors/energy/inquiry/index.html. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
  6. ^ "Communication from the Commission – Inquiry pursuant to Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 into the European gas and electricity sectors". European Commission. 2007. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52006DC0851:EN:NOT. Retrieved 12 March 2010. 
  7. ^ "Energising Europe – a real market with secure supply (Third legislative package)". European Commission. http://ec.europa.eu/energy/gas_electricity/third_legislative_package_en.htm. Retrieved 17 January 2010. 
  8. ^ The European Parliament and Council (2009):, Regulation (EC) No. 714/2009, Article 6–8, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32009R0714:EN:NOT
  9. ^ The European Parliament and Council (2009):, Regulation (EC) No. 714/2009, Article 8 (3a), http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32009R0714:EN:NOT
  10. ^ The European Parliament and Council (2009):, Regulation (EC) No. 714/2009, Article 8 (3b), http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32009R0714:EN:NOT
  11. ^ The European Parliament and Council (2009):, Regulation (EC) No. 714/2009, Article 8 (3d-f), http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32009R0714:EN:NOT
  12. ^ The European Parliament and Council (2009):, Regulation (EC) No. 714/2009, Article 1', http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32009R0714:EN:NOT
  13. ^ European Network of Transmission System Operators (2009): Mission, http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=14
  14. ^ a b c The European Parliament and Council (2009):, Regulation (EC) No. 714/2009, Article 1, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32009R0714:EN:NOT
  15. ^ European Network of Transmission System Operators (2009): ENTSO-E Member Companies, http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=15
  16. ^ European Network of Transmission System Operators (2009): UCTE – Union for the Coordination of the Transmission of Electricity,http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=102
  17. ^ European Network of Transmission System Operators (2009): ATSOI – Association of the Transmission System Operators of Ireland, http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=98
  18. ^ European Network of Transmission System Operators (2009): UKTSOA – UK Transmission System Operators Association, http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=103
  19. ^ European Network of Transmission System Operators (2009): Nordel, http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=101
  20. ^ European Network of Transmission System Operators (2009): BALTSO – Baltic Transmission System Operators, http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=99
  21. ^ European Network of Transmission System Operators (2009): 50 Hertz: a delicate balance, http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=108
  22. ^ European Network of Transmission System Operators (2009): Electronic Data Interchange, http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=105
  23. ^ European Network of Transmission System Operators (2009): System Development, http://www.entsoe.eu/index.php?id=22

External links