Laurent Schmitt, secretary general of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, answers questions on Europe’s power links.
Early March was marked by a series of articles on the impact of a political dispute between Serbia and Kosovo* on digital clocks around Europe. Europeans realised that these clocks were all linked by the same electric frequency and that this frequency was key for ensuring their security of supply. What is this complex machine that enables some 400 million inhabitants to enjoy a secure supply of energy? Why is cooperation and coordination key to operating a network that transports an energy travelling at almost the speed of light? Laurent Schmitt, secretary general of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, answers questions on Europe’s power links.
Can you explain in a nutshell what happened earlier this month in Continental Europe?
The unprecedented incident that led to some electric clocks showing a delay of six minutes highlighted the need for all electricity transmission system operators to apply one of the strictest and most developed technical rulebooks, The Continental European Operational Handbook. It can be compared to an international code for air traffic control.
The respect of these operational rules is paramount in a system that continuously connects 26 countries spanning from Spain to Poland and from Denmark to Turkey. All the power systems of Continental Europe function synchronously at the average frequency of 50Hz. If this average frequency deviates, it triggers automatic solidarity mechanisms. But these are in place to support a power system with technical difficulties, not to be used in a political dispute. This is why citizens have unfortunately witnessed some time deviations, which, under normal circumstances, are automatically dealt with by the operators.
What is the Continental European Power System?
The Continental European Power System is one of the five synchronous areas that the European Network for Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) represents. In total, 43 transmission system operators in 36 countries are part of ENTSO-E. The association supports its members in their tasks at European level. It facilitates information exchange and the development of best practice solutions. It was created to support the development of a single European electricity market.
Why does Europe need integrated electricity markets?
Electricity does not stop at borders. It is, by nature, international, if you like. Creating the conditions for the cross-border exchange of electricity makes perfect sense. EU legislators have been supporting a single electricity market because they want consumers to pay the fairest price for their electricity, encouraging cross-border competition. They also want to guarantee citizens and businesses the highest level of security possible in a cost-efficient way. Sharing electricity resources across borders is essential in meeting this objective. The need to support Europe’s energy transition is another great motivating factor; creating a European market means allowing large shares of renewables to be transported from the most competitive production locations to large consumption centres.
What is the role of transmission system operators (TSOs) in the creation of this single market?
There could not be a European market without interconnection between countries, and without TSOs calculating and making capacity on their network available for cross-border electricity exchanges. So, TSOs have been, and are, instrumental in the creation and optimisation of a single energy market.
What is the state of European electricity markets at this time?
Power markets and systems have to:
- Adapt to digitisation;
- Couple with the sector;
- Decentralise and vary generation;
- Have more active customers; and
- Address climate change.
These global trends have huge implications for transmission. We hope for ENTSO-E to act as an innovation hub and be the place where solutions are discussed among member TSOs.
What is the role of ENTSO-E in this development?
ENTSO-E is a fantastic environment to develop common and innovative solutions based on the experience of all of our member TSOs, while fostering strong stakeholder involvement – particularly through market participants and consumers. An enhanced partnership with the distribution system operators (DSOs) is also key here and this is, in fact, already a reality at EU level.
How will digitalisation be visible in the power system transformation?
The power system transformation will benefit in three ways from being digitalised:
- Optimised network operation and planning;
- Allowing new market transactions along the power value chain, pulling new flexibility sources from prosumers and facilitating sector integration; and
- Innovative solutions to prepare for the next power system – with a near- to fully-decarbonised economy, electrified heating and transport and more decentralisation, amongst other solutions.
The TSO community and ENTSO-E are working on several research projects, benchmarking the potential of digitisation at various levels of the system.
How will this be visible to consumers?
Through fairer electricity prices, more choices, better and new real-time price options, more information and more ability to value their flexibility. As well as more traceability on the origins of their electricity, potentially making use of new blockchain technologies. The issues having affected frequency in Continental Europe have raised awareness of many consumers of the complex machine that lies behind their plugs. In the future, a new relationship between TSOs and consumers will develop, challenging grid operators to put consumers in the driver’s seat even further.
Why did some electric clocks gradually show a delay of six minutes at the beginning of March?
Due to a political dispute around energy between Serbia and Kosovo*, the transmission system operator in Kosovo* did not balance its supply and demand. No measures were taken to correct the imbalance by the Serbian operator responsible for the block – Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. The situation lasted between mid-January and beginning of March. This imbalance led to a slight drop of the electric frequency. Clocks geared by electric frequency gradually slowed down.
How will the operators ensure that the situation returns to normal operation?
The first step was to ask the operators in Serbia and Kosovo* to be balanced again. This was done at the beginning of March. The second step is for the missing energy to be returned to the system. This will gradually lead to a slight increase of the average frequency and thus will get the clocks affected running on time once again. The third step is for a political solution to be found between the two parties in order to ensure that this issue will not happen again.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Laurent Schmitt
Secretary General
European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E)
www.entsoe.eu/Pages/default.aspx
