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)
Type	association
Purpose	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	Nick Winser
Vice President	Damjan Medimorec
Chairperson of the Board	Pierre Bornard
Vice Chairperson of the Board	Bente Hagem
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.

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] 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] 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]

Initiation

Creation of 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

• Elaboration and establishment of network codes^[8]
• Ensure coordination of network operation by common network operation tools^[9]
• Develop a ten-year network development plan, updated every two years^[10][11]
• Publish annual work programme, annual report and annual summer and winter generation adequacy outlooks^[12]

Objectives

• Security of supply^[13][14]
• Meeting the needs of the Internal Energy Market and facilitating market integration^[15]
• Promotion of relevant R&D and the public acceptability of transmission infrastructure^[15]
• Consultation with stakeholders and positions towards energy policy issues^[15]

Members

The ENTSO-E now contains 41 TSOs from 34 countries, which now share an interconnected transmission grid in the EU.^[16]

ISO country code	Country	TSO	Abbr.
AT	Austria	Verbund - Austrian Power Grid	APG
AT	Austria	Vorarlberger Übertragungsnetz	VUEN
BE	Belgium	Elia System Operator	Elia
BS	Bosnia Herzegovina	Nezavisni operator sustava u Bosni i Hercegovini	NOS BiH
BG	Bulgaria	Electroenergien Sistemen Operator	ESO
HR	Croatia	Croatian Transmission System Operator	HOPS
CY	Cyprus	Cyprus Transmission System Operator	Cyprus TSO
CZ	Czech Republic	ČEPS	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	Independent Power Transmission Operator	IPTO (or ADMIE)
HU	Hungary	MAVIR	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	Crnogorski elektroprenosni sistem AD	CGES
NL	Netherlands	TenneT
NO	Norway	Statnett
PL	Poland	Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne	PSE
PT	Portugal	Redes Energéticas Nacionais	REN
RO	Romania	Transelectrica
RS	Serbia	Elektromreža Srbije	EMS
SK	Slovak Republic	SEPS	SEPS
SI	Slovenia	Elektro-Slovenija	ELES
ES	Spain	Red Eléctrica de España	REE
SE	Sweden	Svenska Kraftnät	SVK
CH	Switzerland	swissgrid	Swissgrid
GB	United Kingdom	National Grid plc	National Grid
GB	United Kingdom	System Operator for Northern Ireland	SONI
GB	United Kingdom	Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc	SHE Transmission
GB	United Kingdom	Scottish Power Transmission plc	SPTransmission

Regional structure

ENTSO-E is divided into five regional groups and 2 voluntary Regional Groups (Northern Europe and Isolated Systems), which derive from the historic background of the former associations.

Continental Europe

The regional group of Continental Europe includes the former members of the 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.^[17]

Ireland

The region of Ireland consists of EirGrid and System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI), the former members of the Association of the Transmission System Operators of Ireland (ATSOI).^[18]

United Kingdom

The region of the United Kingdom consists of the TSOs of the United Kingdom, former members of the UK Transmission System Operators Association (UKTSOA).^[19]

Nordic

The Nordic region consists of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Eastern Denmark, the former members of the 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.^[20]

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.^[21]

Northern Europe

The members of the Voluntary Regional Group Northern Europe (VRG NE) are the following TSOs:^[22]

• Denmark (East): Energinet.dk
• Finland: Fingrid OyJ
• Germany: TenneT TSO GmbH (corresponding member)
• Germany: 50Hertz Transmission GmbH (corresponding member)
• Netherlands: TenneT TSO B.V.
• Norway: Statnett SF
• Poland: PSE S.A.
• Sweden: Affärsverket Svenska Kraftnät

Isolated Systems

The members of the Voluntary Regional Group Isolated Systems (RG IS) are the following TSOs:^[23]

• Cyprus: Cyprus Transmission System Operator
• Iceland: Landsnet hf
• Italy: Terna - Rete Elettrica Nazionale SpA
• Spain: Red Eléctrica de España: S.A.

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.^[24]

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.^[25]

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.^[26]

See also

• EURELECTRIC
• Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
• European Energy Community
• European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG)
• IPS/UPS – TSO organization for the networks of most of the former Soviet republics and Mongolia
• SuperSmart Grid, European super grid

Notes

External links

• ENTSO-E website
• ENTSO-E Transparency Platform
• EC Website on Electricity