Europe News

Latest news and developments from Europe

• Finland’s Fingrid to refurbish Kangasala substation in Tampere

  July 21, 2021
  Finland’s transmission system operator (TSO) Fingrid is planning to refurbish the Kangasala substation to ensure electricity supply in the Tampere region.

• Latvia’s AST to invest EUR400 million in development over next ten years

  July 21, 2021
  Latvian transmission system operator (TSO) Augstsprieguma Tikls (AST) is planning to invest approximately EUR400 million in grid development over the next ten years.

• Lithuania approves plan to cut electricity transfer capacity from Belarus

  July 21, 2021
  Lithuania's government has approved a plan to cut the maximum cross-border power transmission capacity from Belarus to Lithuania, implying that the capital city Vilnius will follow its rules for electricity trade with non-European Union (EU) countries until a new three-way Baltic deal is reached.

• EU funds GE's 245 kV g-cubed circuit-breaker to accelerate grid decarbonisation

  July 20, 2021
  GE Renewable Energy's Grid Solutions business has been awarded EUR2.5 million through the European Commission's (EC) LIFE climate action programme, to help fund the development of a sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)1-free, 245 kV g³ live tank circuit breaker.

• Swiss trade deal with EU necessary to ensure power grid stability

  July 14, 2021
  According to Switzerland’s transmission system operator (TSO) Swissgrid, the country could face power grid stability issues in the coming years if it does not secure an electricity trade agreement with the European Union (EU).

• UK set to be a net exporter of electricity by end of decade [free access]

  July 13, 2021
  According to future energy scenarios released by the country’s transmission system operator (TSO) National Grid, the UK will be a net exporter of electricity to continental Europe by 2030, a scenario that will remain so through to and beyond 2050.

• Italy’s Terna and other European TSOs set to decarbonise system

  July 12, 2021
  Along with Italy’s transmission system operator (TSO) Terna, Austrian TSO Austrian Power Grid AG (APG), Belgium’s TSO Elia Asset SA, France’s TSO Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTE), Germany’s Amprion, Netherlands TenneT, Spain’s Red Eléctrica de España (REE) and Switzerland’s Swissgrid have initiated a joint initiative that highlights and strengthens their key role in the region’s energy transition from a system that mainly uses fossil sources to one that is increasingly cleaner and efficient; and provides concrete examples of their enabling activities.

• Lithuania invites bids to build 330 kV Vilnius–Neris line

  July 12, 2021
  Lithuania’s transmission system operator (TSO) Litgrid has invited bids for a contract to design and build a new power transmission line from Vilnius to Neris, as part of preparations for synchronising the country's electricity grid with the Continental European system.

• Lithuania’s electricity system will need all producers under extreme conditions

  July 8, 2021
  According to Lithuania’s electricity transmission system operator (TSO) Litgrid, Lithuania’s power system will need all its existing electricity producers in order to ensure the functioning of the system in the event of isolated operation or an unscheduled synchronous connection.

• Lithuania’s Litgrid to cut energy imports from Russia and Belarus

  July 8, 2021
  Lithuania’s electricity transmission system operator (TSO) Litgrid is set to considerably reduce electricity imports from Belarus as a step towards abandoning electricity intake from Russia and Belarus by 2025 and joining the European Union’s (EU) energy system.

• Hellenic Cables selected for submarine interconnection project in Adriatic Sea

  July 7, 2021
  Hellenic Cables, the cable segment of Belgian Cenergy Holdings, has signed a contract with major Croatian contractor Končar Group for the supply of 12-km-long, 110 kV submarine cables, accessories and related services.

• Spain's REE selects Nokia for network upgrade [free access]

  July 6, 2021
  The Spanish transmission system operator (TSO) Red Eléctrica de España (REE), has selected Finland-based Nokia to upgrade its existing network with the latter’s internet protocol (IP)/multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) and dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) optical technology.

• Turkey set to privatise TSO TEIAS

  July 6, 2021
  Turkey has included the Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEIAS) in the scope of the country’s privatisation process.

• Hitachi ABB Power Grids to become ‘Hitachi Energy’ [free access]

  July 1, 2021
  On the occasion of its first anniversary, Hitachi ABB Power Grids last week announced that it will be known as ‘Hitachi Energy’ from October 2021.

• EirGrid partners with Smart Wires on groundbreaking grid project

  July 1, 2021
  Ireland’s transmission system operator (TSO) EirGrid is partnering with local power technology firm Smart Wire Grid Europe and the research and development consortium Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), on a groundbreaking project aimed at boosting the flow of renewable energy on the electricity grid.

• Swedish Sweco to provide advisory services for 10 GW North Sea energy island project

  July 1, 2021
  Sweden-based engineering consultancy company Sweco has won a four-year contract to serve as technical advisor to the Danish Energy Agency, Energistyrelsen, in connection with the establishment of a 10 GW energy island in the North Sea.

• Finland’s Fingrid launches pilot projects to improve system security

  July 1, 2021
  Finland's electricity transmission system operator (TSO) Fingrid has decided to reinforce the main grid in Eastern Finland with an investment of approximately EUR5 million.

• EC gives green light for Austrian network reserve to ensure secure electricity supply

  July 1, 2021
  The European Commission (EC) approved Austrian plans to establish a network reserve for the Austrian electricity market.

• Lithuania’s Litgrid to invest over EUR1.30 billion by 2030 to improve power grid

  June 30, 2021
  Lithuania's electricity transmission system operator (TSO) Litgrid is planning to invest over EUR1.30 billion by 2030, as it seeks to get ready for the growth in electricity demand and synchronisation of electricity grids with those of continental Europe.

• Bonds of Latvia’s AST to be included in Nasdaq Riga bond market

  June 30, 2021
  Latvian transmission system operator (TSO) Augstsprieguma Tikls (AST) plans to enter the country’s sole stock exchange Nasdaq Riga’s bond market.