IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2014 - 42

focus on the european ultra-high-voltage system, which is
already considered to be a "smart" system but is expected to
evolve toward architectures offering higher transfer capacities (a so-called "supergrid"). We address the challenges of
making power distribution systems smarter only insofar as
transmission-distribution interfaces are concerned, in the
course of illustrating the tensions and complementarities
within the smart grid and supergrid concepts.
in this light, the article presents the main policy objectives and visions for electricity in the european union,
key figures and trends relating to the european energy and
electricity systems in a worldwide context, and technological options and design challenges for the pan-european
transmission grid. the article ends by summarizing various
needs and potential solutions for the eu transmission grid in
view of its long-term evolution.

EU Policy Objectives
and Vision for Electricity
the eu's energy and climate change policies aim to concurrently confront challenges related to:
✔ security of energy supply (by ensuring a reliable and
uninterrupted supply of energy and electricity)
✔ competitiveness as electricity markets are restructured (by reducing the energy bill for households and
businesses and maximizing market efficiency)
✔ sustainability (by limiting the environmental impact
of energy production, transport, and use).
in 2009, the third internal energy market package was
one of the major eu policy initiatives. it was aimed at accelerating infrastructure investments, with the goal of ensuring the proper functioning of the eu electricity market. the
europe 2020 growth strategy-with its so-called "20/20/20"
agenda-is the current starting point for europe's energy
and climate change policies. it aims to reduce cO2 emissions by 20% compared with 1990 levels, raise the share of
renewable sources in the overall eu energy mix to 20%, and
increase energy efficiency by 20%.
as far as energy grid development is specifically concerned, the medium-term policy was first outlined in the
eu's communication on energy infrastructure priorities
for 2020 and beyond and then detailed in the guidelines for
trans-european energy networks (ten-e), which identified
three eu infrastructure priority areas (electricity highways,
smart grids, and cO2 networks) and nine infrastructure priority corridors (on electricity, gas, and oil).
as a first step in the implementation of ten-e, the european commission (ec) adopted a list of projects of common
interest (Pcis) in electricity, gas, and oil infrastructure. the
guidelines provide a new way to identify infrastructure projects of common interest and to accelerate their implementation through enhanced regional cooperation, streamlined
permit-granting procedures, adequate regulatory treatment,
and through european financial assistance under the proposed
connecting europe Facility. the list of Pcis is to be reviewed
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on a regular basis so as to implement the long-term vision of
pan-european market integration and a low-carbon transition.
as for the longer-term perspective, the ec has issued
the energy roadmap 2050, which outlines scenarios leading up to 2050 and following a path toward a low-carbon
economy, assuming a greenhouse gas emissions reduction
target of at least 80%. all of the scenarios share the following key elements:
✔ the share of renewables in energy will grow, covering
more than 40% of gross final energy consumption in
2050, compared with the 20% expected in 2020.
✔ energy savings will be crucial, with a 32-41% reduction in energy demand by 2050, compared with the
2005-2006 peaks.
✔ the share of electricity in final uses will increase
from 22% in 2009 to 37% in 2050.
✔ capital investments in infrastructure assets will
increase, and the fossil fuel bill will decrease.
✔ decentralized power, i.e., power generation connected
to medium- and low-voltage distribution systems, will
grow, accounting for up to 35% of total generation
capacity by 2050.

European Energy: Figures and Trends
the final uses of energy in the eu and some other key areas
in 2009 are reported in table 1. europe accounts for 14% of
the final uses of energy in the world, almost the same level
as china and the united States (17%). electricity represents
20% of the final uses of energy in the eu, basically the same
as in the united States.
in 2009, the total eu energy consumption for final uses
was covered mainly by oil and oil products (44%), gas
(22%), and electricity (20%). this mix varies widely across
countries and over time depending on the availability of
resources, national policies and regulations, decarbonization
requirements, and internal market developments. in turn, the
production of electricity in the eu in 2010 was based mostly
on traditional fuels (more than 50%), while nuclear production was still remarkable (27%) and renewables accounted
for 21%, according to eurostat.
the general eu energy scenario has been characterized by an increase over the last two decades in oil and gas
imports, which are set to exceed 80% of the total oil and gas
consumption by 2030. in contrast, other major countries like
the united States are well on their way to becoming net gas
exporters, thanks to the shale gas production boom. this is
anticipated to widen the gap between eu and u.S. energy
and electricity prices and at the same time increase the use
of coal in europe for electricity production. eu coal imports
increased by some 10% in 2012 relative to 2011. it is expected
in some optimistic scenarios that indigenous unconventional
gas could replace declining conventional production, reducing
import dependence to the 60% level. rising global demand
for energy resources may directly affect europe. in 2012, eu
imports of liquefied natural gas (lnG) dropped by 30% with
march/april 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2014