London (Platts)--19Jun2012/812 am EDT/1212 GMT

The European Commission is to give financial backing to a plan by EU power transmission system operators to create a framework for the modular expansion of the European power grid between 2020 and 2050, EU power grid operator body Entso-e said Tuesday.

A consortium of 15 grid operators, research institutes, universities, industry associations and a non-governmental organization set up the "e-Highway2050" project consortium and applied for funding under the EC's seventh framework program for research and development FP-7 Energy 2012.

"The project aims at delivering a top-down methodology to support the planning of the pan-European Transmission network, including possible electricity highways, capable of meeting European needs between 2020 and 2050," Ensto-e said.

The project was shortlisted by the EC for funding following a decision in April. The extent of the funding was not yet known, but could be up to Eur9 million ($11.3 million), an Entso-e spokesman said Tuesday.

Article continues below...

Request a free trial of: European Power Daily
	European Power Daily's uniquely comprehensive package of news and pricing information, provides you with daily updates on new policies, projects, power deals, acquisitions, solicitations, alliances, regulatory decisions and evolving trading markets in Europe. It also produces market assessments from the UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and the Czech Republic.

Entso-e said the three-year project would formally begin in July. Throughout the project, partners would review mid- to long-term national policies, look at macro-economic factors which may impact infrastructure development up to 2050, and to assess potential effects of an "electricity highway" at member state level.

The EC has estimated that Eur200 billion needs to be spent on energy infrastructure by 2050, including "projects of common interest" that are to contribute to identified infrastructure priorities and impact on more than one EU country.

Ensto-e said the project would build on the TSOs' existing 10-year network development plan and other initiatives like the North Seas Offshore Grid Initiative, which seeks to foster cooperation between countries bordering the North Sea and evaluate the potential of building an offshore supergrid to connect them.

--Paul Whitehead, paul_whitehead@platts.com
--Edited by Jonathan Dart, jonathan_dart@platts.com

Tweet