RGI Members and the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) jointly developed the paper on storage to draw the attention on the essential role storage can play in delivering flexibility to the system to accommodate rapidly growing shares of RES, thereby supporting and sustaining a major pillar of the energy transition.

Partial undergrounding is an important technological option that needs to be carefully considered when building new extra-high voltage lines. Developed under the RGI umbrella, the discussion paper on partial undergrounding provides an overview of systemic, environmental, social and financial aspects. As there is limited experience with extra-high voltage alternating current (AC) undergrounding, a better understanding of the technology is essential to adequately respond to citizens’ requests on when this option is suitable and feasible. 

“Technological options provided by storage and partial undergrounding are important elements to speed up RES deployment and integration while maintaining a reliable system, protecting nature and adequately considering the concerns of citizens”, says Antonella Battaglini, CEO of the Renewables Grid Initiative.

“We need to increase the targets and the development of renewables to fight climate change. In order to do this, it is very important to focus on the ongoing innovation regarding grids deployment and storage. Today’s workshop is an important step for the collaboration between different stakeholders, sharing experiences and visions about the energy transition in Europe and in US”, says Edoardo Zanchini, Vice President of Legambiente.

“Investing in a sustainable development of the electricity grids and promoting innovation, research, smart solutions and new resources for grid flexibility, such as storage, are fundamental at this stage in the energy transition process towards an increasingly interconnected, decarbonised and renewable system. But the energy transition, on the other hand, involves also tremendous changes, as far as the topology and impact of the grid are concerned. In fact, a significant deal of Terna’s new lines will be built using underground cables, as a demonstration of the ever growing attention we pay to stakeholders and the territory”, says Luigi Michi,Head of Strategy, Development and System Operation of Terna

Workshop agenda, Discussion papers and Workshop presentations are available at this link.   

Find out more about the collaboration between Legambiente, Terna and RGI here.

Contacts:

RGI, Cristina Simioli, +49 30 7677 194533

Legambiente, Edoardo Zanchini +39 06 86268398

Terna, Ufficio Stampa,  ufficio.stampa@terna.it