European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity

The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) is an association representing 40 electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) from 36 countries across Europe, thus extending beyond EU borders. It manages the Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA). ENTSO-E was established and given legal mandates by the EU's Third Package for the Internal energy market in 2009, which aims at further liberalising the gas and electricity markets in the EU. Ukrainian Ukrenergo became the 40th member of the association on 1 January 2024.

European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity

Abbreviation	ENTSO-E
Predecessor	ETSO, UCTE, NORDEL, ATSOI, UKTSOA, BALTSO
Formation	19 December 2008; 16 years ago (2008-12-19)
Type	Association
Legal status	AISBL
Purpose	ENTSO-E promotes closer cooperation across Europe's TSOs to support the implementation of EU energy policy and achieve Europe's energy and climate policy objectives, which are changing the very nature of the power system
Headquarters	Rue de Spa 8 Brussels, Belgium
Region served	Europe
Membership	Transmission system operators
Main organ	ENTSO-E Assembly
Website	www.entsoe.eu

History

On 27 June 2008, 36 European electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) signed a declaration of intent in Prague to create the ENTSO-E. ENTSO-E was established on 19 December 2008 in Brussels by 42 TSOs as a successor of six regional associations of the electricity transmission system operators. ENTSO-E became operational on 1 July 2009. The former associations ETSO, ATSOI, UKTSOA, NORDEL, UCTE and BALTSO became a part of the ENTSO-E, while still offering data by their predecessors for public interest. Until then, the Union for the Coordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE) was the main organization managing what is now the Continental Europe Synchronous Area.

Creation of ENTSO-E was initiated by the adoption of the European Union third legislative package on the gas and electricity markets. In 2003, the European Commission conducted a sector inquiry concerning the competition of electricity market in six European countries. Examining competition in these countries, the final report stated serious issues to be solved. It was noticed that the integration between member state's markets is still insufficient. Additionally, the absence of transparently available market information was assessed. As a result, the third legislative package on the EU gas and electricity markets was adopted by the European Commission in September 2007.

Objectives

According to its website, "ENTSO-E promotes closer cooperation across Europe’s TSOs to support the implementation of EU energy policy and achieve Europe’s energy & climate policy objectives, which are changing the very nature of the power system. The main objectives of ENTSO-E centre on the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) such as wind and solar power into the power system, and the completion of the internal energy market (IEM), which is central to meeting the European Union’s energy policy objectives of affordability, sustainability and security of supply. [...] ENTSO-E aims to be the focal point for all technical, market and policy issues relating to TSOs and the European network, interfacing with power system users, EU institutions, regulators and national governments."

Members

TSOs are responsible for the bulk transmission of electric power on the main high voltage electric networks. TSOs provide grid access to the electricity market players (i.e., generating companies, traders, suppliers, distributors, and directly connected customers) according to non-discriminatory and transparent rules. In many countries, TSOs are in charge of the development of the grid infrastructure, too. TSOs in the European Union internal electricity market are entities operating independently from the other electricity market players (unbundling).

ENTSO-E contained 40 Member TSOs from 36 countries as of January 2024. Due to Brexit three Great Britain based operators left and only Northern Ireland's SONI remains from the UK.

On 26 April 2022 Ukrenergo signed an observer membership agreement and became the 40th member of ENTSO-E on 1 January 2024.

On 14 January 2016 TEİAŞ signed an agreement with ENTSO-E to become first observer member, the agreement expired in January 2019. On 13 December 2022 TEİAŞ signed a new Observer Membership Agreement that will run for a period of three years.

ISO country code	Country	TSO	Abbr.
AL	Albania	Operatori i Sistemit te Transmetimit	OST
AT	Austria		APG
AT	Austria		VUEN
BA	Bosnia and Herzegovina		NOS BiH
BE	Belgium	Elia Transmission Belgium	Elia
BG	Bulgaria		ESO
HR	Croatia		HOPS
CY	Cyprus		Cyprus TSO
CZ	Czechia		ČEPS
DK	Denmark	Energinet
EE	Estonia	Elering
FI	Finland	Fingrid
FR	France	Réseau de Transport d'Électricité	RTE
DE	Germany	TransnetBW	TNG
DE	Germany	Tennet TSO	TTG
DE	Germany	Amprion
DE	Germany	50Hertz Transmission	50Hertz
GR	Greece	Independent Power Transmission Operator	IPTO (or ADMIE)
HU	Hungary
IS	Iceland	Landsnet
IE	Ireland	EirGrid
IT	Italy	Terna
LV	Latvia	Augstsprieguma tīkls	AST
LT	Lithuania	Litgrid
LU	Luxembourg	Creos Luxembourg
MK	North Macedonia	MEPSO
ME	Montenegro	Crnogorski elektroprenosni sistem AD	CGES
NL	Netherlands	TenneT	TTN
NO	Norway	Statnett
PL	Poland	Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne	PSE
PT	Portugal	Redes Energéticas Nacionais	REN
RO	Romania	Transelectrica
RS	Serbia	Elektromreža Srbije	EMS
SK	Slovakia	Slovenská elektrizačná prenosová sústava	SEPS
SI	Slovenia	Elektro-Slovenija	ELES
ES	Spain	Red Eléctrica de España	REE
SE	Sweden	Svenska Kraftnät	SVK
CH	Switzerland	Swissgrid	Swissgrid
GB	United Kingdom	System Operator for Northern Ireland	SONI
UA	Ukraine	Ukrenergo	Ukrenergo

Observers

ISO country code	Country	TSO	Abbr.
TR	Turkey	Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation	TEİAŞ
MD	Moldova		Moldelectrica

Geographical area

Map of the extent

The geographical area covered by ENTSO-E's member TSOs is divided into four synchronous areas and two isolated systems (Cyprus and Iceland). Synchronous areas are groups of countries that are connected via their respective power systems. The system frequency (50 Hz, with usually very minor deviations) is synchronous within each area, and a disturbance at one single point in the area will be registered across the entire zone. Individual synchronous areas are interconnected through direct current interconnectors.

The benefits of synchronous areas include pooling of generation capacities, common provisioning of reserves, both resulting in cost-savings, and mutual assistance in the event of disturbances, resulting in cheaper reserve power costs (for instance in case of a disturbance or outage).

Legal basis

The Third Energy Package and Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity regulation stipulate ENTSO-E's tasks and responsibilities. Regulation (EU) 838/2010 on guidelines relating to the inter-TSO compensation mechanism sets out the methodology by which TSOs receive compensation for the costs incurred in hosting cross-border flows of electricity. Regulation (EU) 347/2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure defines European Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) identifies ENTSO-E's ten-year network development plan (TYNDP) as the basis for the selection of PCIs. ENTSO-E is also mandated to develop a corresponding cost–benefit methodology for the assessment of transmission infrastructure projects.

The Transparency Regulation (EU) No. 543/2013  on submission and publication of data in electricity markets makes it mandatory for European Member State data providers and owners to submit fundamental information related to electricity generation, load, transmission, balancing, outages, and congestion management for publication through the ENTSO-E Transparency Platform.

ENTSO‑E does not class as a "public sector body" under the meaning provided in the 2019 Open Data Directive.

Key activities

Pan-European Transmission Network plans and cost–benefit analysis

The ten-year network development plan 2016 (TYNDP) is drafted by ENTSO-E, in close cooperation with stakeholders, under scrutiny of ACER and is finally adopted by the European Commission. It is the only existing pan-European network development plan. It is the basis for the selection of EU projects of common interest (PCIs). The list of PCIs is not fixed by ENTSO-E and is subject to a different process led by the European Commission and EU Member States.

The TYNDP is updated every two years. For inclusion in the TYNDP, each project, whether transmission or storage, has to go through a cost–benefit analysis. The benefit analysis methodology is developed by ENTSO-E in consultation with stakeholders and adopted by the European Commission. It assesses projects against socio-economic and environmental criteria.

Adequacy Outlooks

ENTSO-E publishes summer and winter adequacy outlooks, as well as a mid-term resource adequacy assessment, the European Resource Adequacy Assessment (ERAA). The seasonal outlooks assess if there is enough generation to cover supply and highlight possibilities for neighbouring countries to contribute to the generation/demand balance in critical situations in a specific country. The ERAA analyses resource adequacy on the decade ahead, accounting for investment and retirement decisions.

Network codes

ENTSO-E's network codes are binding pan-European rules drafted by ENTSO-E in consultation with stakeholders, with guidance from ACER. Network codes are grouped in three areas:

• connection codes connecting electricity generators, demand, and direct current lines to the transmission grids;
• operational codes governing how the pan-European electricity systems are operated;
• and market codes facilitating and harmonising electricity trading across European borders.

The drafting and adoption process of network codes is defined by the Third Package. ACER develops a framework guideline setting the policy choices for each code. On this basis, the codes are drafted by ENTSO-E in consultation with stakeholders. After ACER's opinion and recommendation for adoption, each code is submitted to the European Commission for approval through the Comitology process, i.e., to be voted on by Member State representatives and thus to become EU law, directly binding and implemented across all Member States.

Transparency Platform (TP)

ENTSO-E's Central Information Transparency Platform provides free access to fundamental data and information on pan-European wholesale energy generation, transmission, and consumption.

Research, development, and innovation (RDI)

ENTSO-E's R&D Roadmap provides the ENTSO-E vision on grid projects to be carried out by TSOs to meet EU objectives. The roadmap is supported by the annual R&D Implementation Plan, which combines both top-down and bottom-up approaches in meeting the requirements of the roadmap. ENTSO-E publishes annually a R&D Monitoring Report that assesses the progress of TSO-related R&D work.

Governance

ENTSO-E is an international non-profit association (AISBL) established according to Belgian law. ENTSO-E is financed by its members. The TSOs contribute to the budget according to the number of countries and the population served.

The highest body of ENTSO-E is the Assembly, which is composed of representatives at CEO level of all the currently 43 members. The ENTSO-E Board is elected every two years from the overall membership and through the Assembly. It includes 12 representatives. The president, vice president, and committee chairs are invited to board meetings. The board coordinates the committees and LRG work and implements Assembly decisions.

ENTSO-E has established four specialized committees composed of managers from member TSOs. Each committee leads a number of regional groups and working groups.

At the same level as the four committees, the transversal Legal & Regulatory Group advises all ENTSO-E bodies on legal and regulatory issues. In addition, expert groups on data, network codes implementation, and EU affairs provide specific expertise and work products to the association.

ENTSO-E's Secretariat is based in Brussels. It is headed by the secretary-general and represents ENTSO-E to the European institutions, regulators, and stakeholders.

Organizational chart

Position	Name
President of the Assembly	Hervé Laffaye
Vice-President of the Assembly	Zbyněk Boldiš
Chair of the Board	Joachim Vanzetta
Vice Chair of the Board	Liam Ryan
Secretary General	Sonya Twohig
Head of Policy, Communications and Stakeholder Management Section	Christelle Verstraeten
Head of ICT Governance & Architectures Section	Nicolas Richet
Head of Corporate Services Section	Bertrand Macabeo
Head of Corporate Governance Section & General Counsel	Florence Melchior
Head of Legal Section	Ivan Taleski
Head of Market Section	Zoltan Gyulay
Head of Innovation Section	Norela Constantinescu
Head of System Development Section	Edwin Haesen
Head of Operations Section	Bruno Gouverneur
Head of ICT Solutions Section	Ervis Bregu
Head of People, Talent & Culture Section	Evelyne Driane

Key figures (2022)

• 39 transmission system operators
• 35 European countries
• 532 million customers served
• 312,693 kilometres (194,298 mi) of transmission lines
• 3,174.2 TWh electricity transported
• 423,586 GWh of electricity exchange between member TSOs
• 1,023,721 MW net generation capacity connected to the grid

See also

• EURELECTRIC
• Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
• European Energy Community
• European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG)
• IPS/UPS – TSO organization for the networks of most of the former Soviet republics and Mongolia
• SuperSmart Grid, European super grid
• Nord Pool

References

1. ENTSO-E. "ENTSO-E official mandates". European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity. Brussels, Belgium. Retrieved 14 February 2022. Page not dated.
2. "Ukrainian Transmission System Operator, NPC Ukrenergo, joins ENTSO-E as new member". entsoe.eu. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
3. "TSOs for electricity are founding new association" (Press release). ENTSO-E. 1 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
4. "TSOs for electricity have founded a new association" (Press release). ENTSO-E. 19 December 2008. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
5. "European TSOs established new organisation ENTSO-E" (Press release). Statnett. 19 December 2008. Archived from the original on 23 September 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
6. "ENTSO-E, fully operational as of 1 July, welcomes the adoption of the EU's 3rd energy package" (Press release). ENTSO-E. 1 July 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
7. "Inquiry pursuant to Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003". European Commission. 2005. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
8. Communication from the Commission - Inquiry pursuant to Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 into the European gas and electricity sectors
9. "Energising Europe – a real market with secure supply (Third legislative package)". European Commission. Archived from the original on 8 April 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
10. "Who Is ENTSO-E?". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
11. "Market legislation - Energy - European Commission". Ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
12. "ENTSO-E Member Companies". Entsoe.eu. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
13. 12 February 2021 EC Notice to Stakeholders on the Withdrawal of the UK and EU rules in the field of the Internal Energy Market.
14. "ENTSO-E welcomes Ukrenergo as Observer Member". www.entsoe.eu. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
15. "International Organizations". www.teias.gov.tr. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
16. "New Observer Membership Agreement formalised with TEİAŞ". www.entsoe.eu. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
17. "ENTSO-E at a Glance". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
18. Regulation (EU) 2019/943 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the internal market for electricity
19. Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003. No longer in force, Date of end of validity: 31/12/2019; Repealed by 32019R0943.
20. Commission Regulation (EU) No 838/2010 of 23 September 2010 on laying down guidelines relating to the inter-transmission system operator compensation mechanism and a common regulatory approach to transmission charging
21. Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure and repealing Decision No 1364/2006/EC and amending Regulations (EC) No 713/2009, (EC) No 714/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009
22. "Energy topics - European Commission". Ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
23. "R&D Implementation Plan 2016–2018". Entsoe.eu. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
24. "Cost Benefit Analysis Methodology CBA 1.0 for TYNDP Project Assessment". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
25. Commission Regulation (EU) No 543/2013 of 14 June 2013 on submission and publication of data in electricity markets and amending Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council
26. "Ten-Year Network Development Plan 2016". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
27. "Projects of common interest - European Commission". Ec.europa.eu. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
28. "Seasonal Outlooks". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
29. "European Resource Adequacy Assessment". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
30. "Network Codes". Networkcodes.entsoe.eu. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
31. "ENTSO-E Transparency Platform". transparency.entsoe.eu. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
32. Hirth, Lion; Mühlenpfordt, Jonathan; Bulkeley, Marisa (1 September 2018). "The ENTSO‑E Transparency Platform: a review of Europe's most ambitious electricity data platform". Applied Energy. 225: 1054–1067. Bibcode:2018ApEn..225.1054H. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.04.048. ISSN 0306-2619. CC‑BY‑4.0 license.
33. "R&D Roadmap 2017–2026". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
34. "R&D Implementation Plan 2016–2018". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
35. "R&D Monitoring Report 2015". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
36. "ENTSO-E Governance". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
37. "ENTSO-E Working Committees". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
38. "Legal and Regulatory Group (LRG)". Entsoe.eu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.

External links

• Official website
• ENTSO-E Transparency Platform
• EC Website on Electricity