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Project information

Modular development plan of the pan-european transmission system 2050

A. Ramos L. Olmos M. Rivier L. Rouco J.M. Latorre S. Lumbreras F. Bañez D. Fitiwi F.M. Echavarren L. Sigrist

September 2012 - December 2015

Funding entity Comisión Europea

Participated by Réseau de Transport d´Electricité, Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Brunel University, Deutsche Energie - Agentur GMBH, Instytut Energetyki, Elia System Operator, European Wind Energy Association ASBL, REN - Rede Electrica Nacional S.A, Union of the Electricity Industry-Eurelectric AISBL, Third Generation Environmentalism Limited, Technofi S.A., European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity AISBL, Poyry Management Consulting (UK) LTD, Assoc Europeenne de l´Industrie des Equipements et des Services de Transmission et de Distributio, CEPS AS, Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne Operator SA, Technische Universität Berlin, Amprion GMBH,, Europacable Services Limited, Sintef Energi AS,, Terna - Rete Elettrica Nazionale SPA,, Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico S.p.A., Collingwood Environmental Planning Limited, Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per Energia e Sistemi Elettrici, Swissgrid AG, .


The project is aimed at developing and applying a methodology for the long-term development of the Pan-European transmission network. It will deliver a top-down methodology to support the planning from 2020 to 2050. First, it implements a set of future power scenarios, including generation units, the possible use of electricity storage and demand-side management solutions: scenarios for power localization are proposed with assumptions on the energy mix in each of the connected clusters covering the ENTSO-E area. Network studies are performed to detect the weak points when implementing the scenarios for 2050. Grid architectures options and a modular development plan are then proposed, including electricity highways, on the basis of power flow calculations, network stability analysis, socio-economic, network governance considerations, and with remarks from the consultation of European stakeholders. In parallel, an advanced planning methodology is designed, developed and tested with academic laboratories to address a few critical aspects of the above planning methodology, which may impact the robustness of the resulting architectures. This enhanced approach takes into account the correlated uncertainties in renewable generation and consumption, potential voltage and stability issues, and black-out risks including the feasibility of defense plans to avoid uncontrolled cascading failures of the candidate architectures. It includes the use of non-linear detailed models of power grids and stochastic optimization techniques.


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Project funded by European Union, within Seventh Framework Programme:


eHighWay2050