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Energy

Trans-European Networks for Energy

The revised TEN-E policy entered into force in June 2022 and introduced new rules for EU cross-border energy infrastructure.

The Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) is a policy that is focused on linking the energy infrastructure of EU countries. As part of the policy, eleven priority corridors and three priority thematic areas have been identified. The EU helps countries in these priority corridors and thematic areas to work together to develop better connected energy networks, and provides funding for new energy infrastructure projects.

Revision of the TEN-E policy

Energy infrastructure is a key enabler for the energy transition, as reflected in the Commission’s communication on the European Green Deal and a Clean Planet for all (COM(2018) 773 final), explicitly referring to the need for a review of the TEN-E Regulation to ensure consistency with climate neutrality objectives.

In March 2019, the co-legislators agreed on the need to evaluate the effectiveness and policy coherence of the TEN-E Regulation 347/2013 by 31 December 2020.

On 15 December 2020, the Commission adopted a proposal (COM(2020) 824 final) to revise the EU rules on the TEN-E Regulation.

On 23 June 2022, the revised TEN-E Regulation laying down new EU rules for cross-border energy infrastructure entered into force. It will contribute to the EU emissions reduction objectives by promoting integration of renewables and new clean energy technologies into the energy system. It will continue to connect regions currently isolated from European energy markets, strengthen existing cross-border interconnections and promote cooperation with partner countries. It will also help timely delivery of cross-border infrastructure by proposing ways to simplify and accelerate permitting and authorisation procedures.

The preparatory work on the revision drew its evidence from a support study and an extensive consultation process to seek input from specialists, stakeholders and the public. It included a public consultation (18 May 2020 - 13 July 2020) and 4 stakeholder webinars (2-11 June 2020).

In 2022, the Commission organised a series of webinars to present the new provisions. The first list of Projects of Common Interest and Projects of Mutual Interest under the new rules was adopted on 28 November 2023, following a selection process which kicked off in October 2022 with the first cross-regional meeting.

Offshore grid development

In a future with a resilient and decarbonised EU energy system, offshore renewables are essential. As much as we indeed need more renewables, we need our grids to match the challenge and absorb the increasing renewable capacity. This is why planning and investment on grids becomes more important than ever.  

The rapid and coordinated deployment of offshore renewable energy is a key condition for Europe to rid itself of its dependence on fossil fuel imports from Russia as set out in the REPowerEU Plan. In November 2020, the Commission adopted the EU offshore renewable energy strategy. One of the actions it sets out is to draw up a framework for the EU countries to formulate joint long-term commitments for the deployment of offshore renewable energy per sea basin up to 2050.

The revised TEN-E Regulation includes a new chapter on offshore grids with provisions to support the scale-up of offshore grid development across the EU. On 19 January, EU countries, with the support of the Commission, concluded regional non-binding agreements to cooperate on goals for offshore renewable generation to be deployed within each sea basin by 2050.

These agreements include intermediate steps in 2030 and 2040. They will, together with  information on maritime spatial planning, play a fundamental role: being taken up by ENTSO-E to propose strategic Offshore Network Development Plans, giving visibility to grid promoters, investors and the supply chain on what offshore grids to expect for each sea basin by 2050. 

European Grid Action Plan

The Grid Action Plan was published on 28 November 2023 and presented during the 4th PCI Energy Days in Brussels. It presents a number of actions to ensure that our cross-border and local European electricity grids will operate more efficiently and will be rolled out further and faster.

Priority corridors

The eleven priority corridors cover different geographic regions in the field of electricity, offshore grid and hydrogen infrastructure. EU support for development in these corridors will connect regions currently isolated from European energy markets, strengthen existing cross-border interconnections and help integrate renewable energy.

Electricity corridors

North-south electricity interconnections in western Europe (NSI West Electricity): Interconnections between EU countries in this region and with the Mediterranean area including the Iberian peninsula, in particular to integrate electricity from renewable energy sources and reinforce internal grid infrastructures to promote market integration in the region.

North-south electricity interconnections in central eastern and south eastern Europe (NSI East Electricity): Interconnections and internal lines in north-south and east-west directions to complete the EU internal energy market and integrate renewable energy sources.

Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan in electricity (BEMIP Electricity): Interconnections between Member States in the Baltic region and the strengthening of internal grid infrastructure, to end the energy isolation of the Baltic States and to foster market integration; this includes working towards the integration of renewable energy in the region.

Offshore grid corridors

North Seas offshore grid (NSOG): Integrated offshore electricity grid development and related interconnectors in the North Sea, Irish Sea, English Channel, Baltic Sea and neighbouring waters.

Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan offshore grids (BEMIP offshore): Offshore electricity grid development, integrated offshore electricity, as well as, where appropriate, hydrogen grid development and the related interconnectors in the Baltic Sea and neighbouring waters.

South and West offshore grids (SW offshore): Offshore electricity grid development, integrated offshore electricity, as well as, where appropriate, hydrogen grid development and the related interconnectors in the Mediterranean Sea, including the Cadiz Gulf, and neighbouring waters.

South and East offshore grids (SE offshore): Offshore electricity grid development, integrated offshore electricity, as well as, where appropriate, hydrogen grid development and the related interconnectors in the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and neighbouring waters.

Atlantic offshore grids: Offshore electricity grid development, integrated offshore electricity grid development and the related interconnectors in the North Atlantic Ocean waters.

Hydrogen and electrolysers corridors

Hydrogen interconnections in Western Europe (HI West): Hydrogen infrastructure and the repurposing of gas infrastructure, enabling the emergence of an integrated hydrogen backbone, connecting the countries of the region and addressing their specific infrastructure needs for hydrogen supporting the emergence of an Union-wide network for hydrogen transport. It covers Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland. Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria and Portugal.

Hydrogen interconnections in Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe (HI East): Hydrogen infrastructure and the repurposing of gas infrastructure, enabling the emergence of an integrated hydrogen backbone, connecting the countries of the region and addressing their specific infrastructure needs for hydrogen supporting the emergence of an Union-wide network for hydrogen transport. It covers Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan in hydrogen (BEMIP Hydrogen): Hydrogen infrastructure and the repurposing of gas infrastructure, enabling the emergence of an integrated hydrogen backbone, connecting the countries of the region and addressing their specific infrastructure needs for hydrogen supporting the emergence of an Union-wide network for hydrogen transport, covering Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden.

Priority thematic areas

The three priority thematic areas, which relate to the entire EU, include smart electricity grids deployment, smart gas grids, and a cross-border carbon dioxide network.

Smart electricity grids deployment: It increases the deployment of smart grids to help integrate renewable energy and allows consumers to better regulate their energy consumption.

Smart gas grids: Adoption of smart gas grid technologies to efficiently integrate low-carbon and renewable gas sources into the gas network, support the uptake of innovative and digital solutions for network management and facilitate smart energy sector integration and demand response.

Cross-border carbon dioxide network: Development of transport infrastructure for captured CO2 through dedicated thematic groups.

Documents

Regional offshore grids agreements:

20 JANUARY 2023
NSOG non-binding offshore goals final
English
(304.71 KB - PDF)
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20 JANUARY 2023
BEMIP non-binding offshore goals
English
(463.61 KB - PDF)
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20 JANUARY 2023
SW offshore non-binding offshore goals final
English
(460.84 KB - PDF)
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20 JANUARY 2023
Atlantic non-binding offshore goals final
English
(387.24 KB - PDF)
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20 JANUARY 2023
SE offshore non-binding offshore goals final
English
(457.19 KB - PDF)
Download
15 DECEMBER 2022
Achievements of the European energy infrastructure policy
English
(1.28 MB - PDF)
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10 NOVEMBER 2022
Process for the establishment of the first European Union list of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs) under Regulation (EU) 2022/869 (the revised TEN-E Regulation)
English
(618.14 KB - PDF)
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