The Trans-European Networks for Energy a Milestone Towards a Renewables-Powered EU

Virtual

Presentation slides can be accessed here.

The EU energy system needs profound adaptations to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 energy and climate goals, in view of climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest. The future energy system needs to be more efficient, smarter and better integrated between sectors. It is widely acknowledged that direct electrification is at the core of the decarbonisation effort and that offshore wind will play a central role in it, alongside distributed generation. The power sector will rely more and more on variable renewable energy sources, requiring smarter and more flexible transmission and distribution grids. Battery storage and electrolysers converting renewable electricity into hydrogen for the purpose of seasonal storage are important tools in that respect. A renewed, science-based approach to network planning is indispensable to take these new elements into account and fully include flexibility options and demand-side policies.

What are the solutions to integrate large volumes of electricity and dispatch it all across Europe, including for the benefit of landlocked countries? How can we drive the necessary investment in batteries and electrolysers with a network function? How market disruptive will these technologies be, notably on price formation and cost-recovery for generation assets? How should network planning evolve to promote system-wide optimization and implement the "energy efficiency first" principle?

In the context of the revision of the regulation on the trans-European networks for energy, the conference gathered experts from various background, political leaders, industry and civil society organisations to address those questions and discuss the future of the EU energy infrastructure.

Programme

18 June 2021, 09:30 – 13:30 CET

Opening Remarks

09:30 – 09:45 CET

Welcome and introduction

  • Claude Turmes, Minister for Energy of Luxembourg
  • Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA
  • João Galamba, Secretary of State of Energy of Portugal, Presidency of the Council of the EU

09:45 – 10:00 CET

 

Scene-setter: What energy infrastructure to support 1.5°C scenarios?

Presenter: 

  • Christopher Andrey, Director at Artelys

Panel 1: The challenge of Integrating High RES Volumes into the Grid

Moderator: Claude Turmes

10:00 – 11:00 CET

Panel

  • Towards a renewables-based power system - Giles Dickson, CEO Wind Europe
  • Energy islands in the Northern Seas: a new joker in EU‘s fight against climate change? - Dan Jorgensen, Minister of Climate and Energy and Public Utilities
  • The grid challenge in the Pentalateral region - Siméon Hagspiel, Energy Commissioner of Luxembourg
  • Innovation Landscape for Power Systems Transformation – Dolf Gielen, Director IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre Bonn
  • Strategic location of flexibility assets to overcome congestion - Werner Götz, CEO of TransnetBW

Q & A

  • Moderated by Jeremie Zeitoun and Guy Lentz

Panel 2: Including Flexibility and Assess Market Impacts in Scenario-Making

Moderator: Claude Turmes

11:00 – 12:00 CET

Panel

  • A renewed look at infrastructure planning - Gerald Kaendler, Vice-Chair of ENTSO-E's System Development Committee
  • Cooperation for a more open and transparent scenario making - Lisa Fischer, E3G
  • Energy efficiency first principle in network planning and operation - Arianna Vitali, Secretary General, The Coalition for Energy Savings
  • Flexibility solutions to reduce wholesale price volatility - Kristian Ruby , Secretary General Eurelectric
  • Electrolysers and batteries as investment opportunities? - Thomas Östros, Vice-president of the EIB

Q & A

  • Moderated by Jeremie Zeitoun and Guy Lentz

Panel 3: Ministerial Panel - Bridging Onshore and Offshore for an Integrated Electricity Grid

Moderator: Claude Turmes

12:00 – 13:00 CET

Panel

  • From fossil fuels to renewable energy sources - Kadri Simson, EU Commissioner for energy
  • A TEN-E that facilitates renewables integration - Claudia Gamon, Member of the European Parliament
  • Offshore energy for landlocked countries in Central Europe, what are the conditions of success? - René Neděla, Deputy Minister for Energy of Czech Republic
  • The Iberic peninsula: a green powerhouse in need of better interconnections? - Teresa Ribera, Fourth Deputy Prime Minister for Ecological transition and the Demographic Challenge

Q & A

  • Moderated by Jeremie Zeitoun and Guy Lentz

Conclusion and wrap-up

13:00 – 13:30 CET
  • Claude Turmes, Minister for Energy of Luxembourg
  • Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA
  • Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the EIB