Engaging in local energy communities represents a promising opportunity for Europe’s consumers to better manage their energy use while promoting a wider renewables uptake. In their function as neutral market facilitators and key enablers of the energy transition, distribution system operators will play a fundamental role in empowering prosumers, individually or collectively engaged in energy self-consumption. In this position paper, EDSO for Smart Grids highlights the roles that DSOs will play in supporting these new entities with the most adequate grid infrastructure solution. Such services can include grid balancing, data metering and other solutions they may need. However, EDSO also signals that the regulatory framework for energy communities must be rightly set, by making sure that new entities are not exempted from network charges and other system obligations that apply to the rest of the customers.

EDSO welcomes the public consultation on the evaluation of the TEN-E Regulation. It takes place at a decisive time for EU energy policy. The TEN-E framework considers smart grids as a “thematic area” with a marginal place in the program, while priority is given to the “corridors” that involve high-voltage networks and interconnectors. This paradigm should be abandoned in the reform of the TEN-E framework. Smart grids have become a central element in the energy transition and smart distribution grids will be instrumental in placing the consumers at the centre of the future European energy system. This should be reflected in a new TEN-E framework that should be adapted to this paradigm shift.

Participating in the “Conference on digitalising energy system: Where digital meets energy” co-hosted by ENTSO-E, two of its members and the Estonian Presidency, Christian Buchel, Chairman of EDSO and Enedis Deputy CEO and Chief Digital Officer, remarked the need of a Protocol for a European Open Data policy in electricity distribution systems. Taking also part in the high-level conference that gathered prominent EU leaders on “Europe’s Future Electricity Market”, hosted by the Estonian Presidency, EDSO added its signature to the “Tallinn e-energy Declaration” that aims to promote the digitalisation of Europe’s energy systems and the use of smart solutions to step up the energy transition.

Engaging in local energy communities represents a promising opportunity for Europe’s consumers to better manage their energy use while promoting a wider renewables uptake. In their function as neutral market facilitators and key enablers of the energy transition, distribution system operators will play a fundamental role in empowering prosumers, individually or collectively engaged in energy self-consumption. In a position paper published today, EDSO for Smart Grids highlights the roles that DSOs will play in supporting these new entities with the most adequate grid infrastructure solution. Such services can include grid balancing, data metering and other solutions they may need. However, EDSO also signals that the regulatory framework for energy communities must be rightly set, by making sure that new entities are not exempted from network charges and other system obligations that apply to the rest of the customers.