Impact Assessment of New Technologies to Foster RES-Electricity Integration into the European Transmission System (GRIDTECH)

The major objective of GridTech is to conduct a fully integrated impact assessment of the implementation of new technologies (RES-E generation, bulk storage, transmission network technologies) into the European electricity system necessary to exploit the full potential of future RES-E generation across Europe with lowest possible total electricity system cost. The time frame of GridTech analyses is up to the year 2050, with special consideration of the target years 2020, 2030 and 2050.The key steps to achieve the required outcomes by the end of the GridTech project are:1.    To assess several non-technical barriers for transmission expansion and distortions for market-compatible RES-E grid and market integration in Europe with reference to the challenges addressed in the relevant European policy documents (EC, ENTSO-E).2.    To develop a cost/benefit analysis methodology on investments into the European transmission grid towards more controllability/flexibility and thus fostering large-scale RES-E and storage integration.3.    To apply/verify the cost-benefit methodology for transmission grid investments on both levels: (i) bottom-up case study analyses in 7 carefully selected target countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Ireland, Bulgaria, Austria) and (ii) top-down modelling covering the entire EU30+ region.4.    Based on a synthesis of results to achieve a common understanding among key target groups/actors on best-practise criteria for the implementation of new technologies fostering RES-E and storage integration into the European transmission system on several scales in time in the future, i.e. up to 2020, 2030 and 2050.5.    Further benefits to the key target audience are clear guidelines on successful implementation of the case study results (in the target countries) addressing necessary changes of the legal, regulatory, and market framework. Comprehensive consultation processes, communication, dissemination activities, policy debates, and cooperation with ENTSO-E will ensure beneficial impact of GridTech recommendations also for policy making in remaining EU countries.