The distribution Grid Matters!
▶️ DSO Entity together with a coalition of 14 European cross-sectoral (energy) associations collectively calls for putting distribution grids at the center of attention of the European agenda for the next five years.
In the joint statement, the coalition explains that 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 (𝐃𝐒𝐎𝐬) 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 on the ground for the benefit of all European citizens, enterprises, and industries. The distribution grids are incorporating an increasing amount of renewables and are becoming more customer driven. DSOs are the key technical enablers of the 42.5% EU’s renewable energy target, as more than 70% of renewables will be connected to the distribution grid by 2030. This will see more than 30 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads and 60 million heat pump units installed by 2030.
In brief, the stakeholder coalition calls for the following:
1. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, possibly, under the EU Competitiveness Fund and align the EU financing instruments with the net-zero targets and DSOs’ needs to gear investments towards the required development of the distribution grid.
2. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 to ensure DSOs’ needs are considered in every new and revised regulation, and that grid expansion does not lag behind.
3. 𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥’𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 by enabling anticipatory investments, ensuring faster permitting procedures, supporting the supply chain by reducing technical complexities and enhancing visibility, and providing suitable and forward-looking regulatory frameworks to guarantee the right investment-friendly environment.
4. 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 within the framework of the EU’s Net-Zero Academies to build and develop the right skills in the direct and indirect grid value chain.
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰