Vision and Strategy for Europe’s Electricity Networks of the Future: European Technology PlatformSmartGrids

Europe’s electricity networks have provided the vital links between electricity producers and consumerswith great success for many decades. The fundamental architecture of these networks has been developedto meet the needs of large, predominantly carbon-based generation technologies, located remotely fromdemand centres.

The energy challenges that Europe is now facing are changing the electricity generationlandscape. The drive for lower-carbon generation technologies, combined with greatly improved efficiency on the demand side, will enable customers to become much more inter-active with the networks. More customer-centric networks are the way ahead, but these fundamental changes will impact significantly on network design and control.

In this context, the European Technology Platform (ETP) SmartGrids was set up in 2005 to create a jointvision for the European networks of 2020 and beyond. The platform includes representatives fromindustry, transmission and distribution system operators, research bodies and regulators. It has identified clear objectives and proposes an ambitious strategy to make a reality of this vision for the benefits of Europe and its electricity customers.