BRUSSELS, May 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Europe's electricity grid is undergoing a
massive transformation driven by ambitious decarbonisation. A
new power system is emerging from the traditional
transmission-heavy model where small-scale renewables, electric
vehicles and heat pumps connect directly to the distribution level.
To enable this evolution, distribution system operators (DSOs) must
expand, modernise and digitalise the grid. Eurelectric conducted a
study to assess the digital maturity of European DSOs.
Digitalisation can largely improve efficiency when building,
operating and maintaining the electricity grid, but several
bottlenecks hamper its full potential.
Today, DSOs are required to ensure a reliable power supply,
accommodate grid connections and secure data flows for customer
privacy and cyber security. Yet, Europe's grid expansion rate is falling behind
the demand for new customer connections. Current infrastructure and
technology systems are often decades old and not fully equipped to
make use of the countless data points added to the grid system.
Flexibility management is also not mature enough to cope with
future needs.
Meanwhile, a higher share of renewables entails more grid
planning and better forecasting due to their variable and
decentralised nature. Considering renewables will constitute 42.5%
of Europe's final energy use by
2030, digital-ready infrastructure is a critical pre-requisite.
"There are many opportunities today to digitalise grid
build-out, operations and maintenance, but to fully leverage them,
grid operators must be supported by clear regulation to make their
business go digital" – says Eurelectric's Secretary General,
Kristian Ruby.
As part of the Wired for Tomorrow study, a survey was conducted
with thirty European DSOs. Regulation was identified as the largest
external challenge to a digitalised grid, followed by skills
shortage. On the contrary, where regulation was clear and
supportive of investments, such as in cybersecurity, digital
maturity was highest across DSOs.
National regulators should encourage digitalisation investments
by ensuring appropriate compensation for DSOs. In parallel, the new
legislation introduced under the twin green and digital transitions
– from the Electricity Market Design, to the Renewable Energy
Directive, the Data and AI Act – must be coherently implemented
across sectors, avoiding overlaps and inconsistencies.
Lastly, a digitalised power system can only succeed with a
skilled workforce able to operate it. The EU can help bridge the
current skill gap by formalising education, developing skills
initiatives and introducing certification recognised across the
EU.
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