Press Releases
Grid operators and environmental organisations team up to promote sustainable modernisation of electricity grids
To support a successful implementation of the European Grid Declaration, signed by a coalition of Europe’s 29 largest environmental NGOs and grid operators in 2011, the Renewables-Grid-Initiative (RGI) launches the European Grid Report. The report publishes over 80 selected practical experiences by different RGI members across Europe. Today at the 2nd European Grid Conference in Brussels, jointly organised by RGI and Smart Energy for Europe Platform (SEFEP), the report and the extended European Grid Declaration on Transparency and Public Participation were presented to European Commissioner for Energy Günther H. Oettinger and to European Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potočnik.
Under the guidance of RGI, a coalition of Europe’s 29 largest environmental NGOs and grid operators pledged to work in partnership to ensure that the goals of grid modernisation and environmental protection can be achieved side by side. In November 2011 the ‘European Grid Declaration on Electricity Network Development and Nature Conservation in Europe’ was publicly signed in Brussels and handed to EU Energy Commissioner Oettinger. Signed today, the second part of the European Grid Declaration on Transparency and Public Participation states the willingness of RGI members to better inform and involve concerned stakeholders and the broader public about grid extension plans and projects.
Building on the principles of the European Grid Declaration, it is absolutely crucial to enhance and to stimulate the use of “better practices” in designing, planning, and communicating grid modernisation projects. To foster a swifter implementation of successfully proven concepts, RGI launches today the European Grid Report “Beyond Public Opposition – Lessons Learned across Europe.” The report provides a comprehensive overview of ongoing activities and relevant experiences that have been gathered in seven countries across Europe.
Signatories of European Grid Declaration on Transparency and Public Participation:
50Hertz, Bellona, BirdLife Europe, CAN Europe, Civilscape, Climate Parliament, Creos SA, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Dii, European Climate Foundation, Elia, Eurobat, European Hydrogen Association, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Friends of the Supergrid, Germanwatch, Global Nature, Greenpeace, National Grid, Red Electrica de Espana, RSPB, RTE, Smart Energy for Europe Platform (SEFEP), Statnett, Swissgrid, TenneT, Terna, WWF
- Full text European Grid Declaration on "Electricity Network Development and Nature Conservation in Europe" (Part 1, signed 10 Nov 11) and "on Transparency and Public Participation" (Part 2, signed 05 Dec 12)
- Full text European Grid Report
Please find press release here with quotes of:
- Antonella Battaglini, Executive Director, Renewables-Grid-Initiative
- Günther H. Oettinger, Commissioner for Energy, European Commission
- Janez Potočnik, Commissioner for the Environment, European Commission
- Sir Graham Watson, MEP and Chairman of the Climate Parliament
- Kristina Steenbock, Executive Director, SEFEP
Finden Sie hier die deutsche Pressemitteilung.
Grid operators and environmental organisations team up to promote sustainable modernisation of electricity grids
Innovation and expansion of European power grids to unlock full potential of renewables
Dated: 10 November 2011
The unlocking of Europe's full potential for renewable energy via the modernisation and expansion of its power grids should go hand-in-hand with nature conservation efforts, said a coalition of Europe's largest grid operators and environmental organisations. The “European Grid Declaration on Electricity Network Development and Nature Conservation in Europe” was handed to European Commissioner for Energy Günther H. Oettinger today at the European Grid Conference in Brussels.
In October, the European Commission put forward a draft law making it easier to build and finance cross-border power lines, which are essential to making Europe’s energy system greener. The coalition of grid operators and civil society organisations supports Europe’s ambition to boost renewable electricity and cut carbon emissions.
A pledge to work together The joint declaration aims to strengthen the coalition of stakeholders supporting grid expansion to integrate renewables and raise public awareness of this need. It also lays the ground for cooperation on specific pilot projects to develop best practice and improve the implementation of grid development in line with nature conservation objectives. The coalition also pledges to encourage transparency and address public acceptance.
Grid operators commit to helping meet Europe’s objectives to protect nature, for example by ensuring that risks to birds from power lines are minimised. At the same time, the NGOs commit to supporting crucial grid development for the integration of renewables from larger centralised and smaller localised generation sources.
Renewables-Grid-Initiative Executive Director Antonella Battaglini: "This declaration shows that Europe's energy and environmental commitments don't need to be in conflict - we can build grids fast for renewables and also protect nature. We need new alliances across society to acknowledge the challenges and to find acceptable solutions. We invite the Commission to use this declaration as a first building block for European guidelines on grid expansion and nature protection."
Download the full press release including quotes and the full text of the European Grid Declaration including the list of inaugural signatories. A photograph of the Declaration being handed over to EU Commissioner for Energy Günther H. Oettinger will be ready for download on this website at 16:30 on 10 November 2011.
Date: 17 November 2010
The Renewables-Grid-Initiative (RGI) welcomes today's release of the Commission's communication on "Energy Infrastructure Priorities for 2020 and 2030". It is an essential framework document to ensure Europe’s commitment and compliance to the European targets for renewables and the long-term agreed objective of cutting climate pollution by up to 95% by 2050 and to do so without damaging Europe’s wildlife and natural environment. Simplified and speedy approval processes and a stable financial framework are vital prerequisites for the construction of the energy infrastructure Europe needs.
However, RGI is concerned that this Communication prevents from setting binding priorities which would enable the creation of a predictable investment and policy framework in the EU and allow for enhanced and speedy expansion of renewables and energy conservation. "Unfortunately, the document does not provide clear directions for investors, no indications of the desired infrastructure, nor a path for achieving the 2020 targets.” summarised Antonella Battaglini, Executive Director of RGI. The fundamental concerns of the joint industrial and NGO group is that this Communication "misses a differentiated approach and does not suffi-ciently stress the need for an urgent legal follow-up", Battaglini added. RGI is also concerned that insuffici-ent attention has been given to building public support for infrastructure development, in terms of communi-cation strategies, participatory planning and avoiding unnecessary environmental impacts.
RGI calls on Commission to prioritise necessary electricity infrastructure development for new renewable energy generation, particularly for variable energy sources such as wind and solar. RGI is concerned that the potential large investment flow into new renewables, such as large-scale offshore wind and required transmission gridlines, is stalled due to a lack of a predictable political frameworks. RGI considers an appropriate legal instrument a key prerequisite for renewable grid integration and expansion, which will allow for unmitigated trade and most economic use of renewables. Such an instrument should stress the need for the speedy development of smart grid technologies, a precondition for expanded use of decentra-lised renewable energy and energy conservation in the sector. It should ideally also contain a policy and investment framework for the electrification of passenger road and rail transport.
Whilst RGI understands the need for a broad and inclusive concept, it believes that each energy technology requires a different and tailor-made approach. New oil and gas pipelines as well as infrastructure for future CO2 storage from coal power have to be dealt with separately. Otherwise those issues could undermine the acceptance for the grid restructuring and expansion. The growing importance of renewable energy and its role in helping to achieve ambitious energy security and climate protection goals of the European Union should be reflected as a priority in upcoming proposals.
Large European Power Grid Companies Support the Full Integration of Expanding Renewable Electricity Generation
Date: 27 April 2010
European grid companies from Belgium, France, UK, and Switzerland, Elia, RTE, National Grid, and Swissgrid respectively, have joined the Renewables-Grid-Initiative (RGI) that is pleased to welcome them and looks forward to counting on their support and professional experience to tackle the future challenges.
In their economic analyses on the options for a decarbonised power sector in Europe by 2050, McKinsey and the European Climate Foundation confirm the technical, economic and security based feasibility of 40, 60, 80 as well as 100% renewable electricity scenarios in Europe by 2050. It is seconded by a similar study by PricewaterhouseCoopers showing that the complete shift towards 100% renewable electricity in Europe is economically and technically feasible while keeping the lights on. However, both reports identify the urgent need for a substantive increase in transmission capacity to integrate large amounts of clean renewable energy sources.
The Renewables-Grid-Initiative welcomes the analysis provided by both studies and confirms the technical possibility of building a power system largely relying on renewable sources while maintaining system reliability and stability, provided the necessary grid developments can be performed in due time. The electricity sector has to change rapidly if we want to reach the European renewable energy targets – an almost doubling of renewable electricity to about 35% between now and 2020. This transformation will induce considerable challenges for transmission system operators (TSOs) and investors in the current regulatory situation. RGI strongly encourages the best possible use of the existing grid and recognises the need for a strategic participatory planning effort to win public and political support for critical grid expansion.
WWF, Germanwatch, Vattenfall Europe Transmission and TenneT promote full grid integration of renewable energies
Date: 03 July 2009
Renewables-Grid-Initiative brings together NGOs and TSOs and announces initial partners
Europe needs a better electricity grid for renewables. It is necessary to:
- Fully integrate localised and decentralised renewable supplies
- Fully integrate large-scale offshore wind and concentrated solar power
- Facilitate the possibility to recover investments in both high voltage DC and AC lines
- Deploy innovative and smart grid technologies to foster energy conservation potentials
The Renewables-Grid-Initiative (RGI) promotes the expansion of distributed and bulk renewable energy generation and transmission capacity in Europe. To reach this target, the initiative brings together non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and transmission system operators (TSOs). For the first time, WWF, Germanwatch, Vattenfall Europe Transmission and Tennet join forces for a common cause.
A large-scale integration of renewable energy sources is deemed necessary to reach the European targets of 20 percent renewable energy by 2020 translating into about 35 percent renewable electricity and to comply further with the 2050 targets of cutting global climate pollution by at least 80 percent. However, a considerable expansion of renewable electricity into the European grid can only be achieved by upgrading and expanding transmission capacity. New strategic interconnections will be required to transport renewable electricity from remote locations to consumption centres. The Renewables-Grid-Initiative demands a new mandate for energy regulators to enable the development of a European grid architecture capable of rapidly and efficiently transmitting renewable energies.
Smart grid development is an essential precondition for substantive renewable energy integration for both decentralised renewables and large scale wind and solar power. At a time of serious economic distress and mounting pressure to address the widespread environmental, economic, and geopolitical consequences of our excessive reliance on fossil fuels, the case for sustainable investments in renewable energy generation and the transmission grid has never been stronger.
The representatives of the four initial partners WWF, Germanwatch, Vattenfall Europe Transmission and Tennet signed a Memorandum of Understanding during the press conference on 3 July 2009 in Berlin.
