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Mar2025
MEMBER NEWS
Digital Transformation has entered TAURON Dystrybucja Pomiary TAURON Dystrybucja SA
Today we had the pleasure of participating in Data & AI Excellence workshops, which were led for us by an exceptional TEAM.
During the training, we went through key elements of understanding digital transformation.
AMI and cybersecurity challenges for distribution utilities in India
The growing adoption of AMI in India’s power distribution sector is giving rise to substantial cybersecurity challenges, write Suhas M Kharad and JVS Ramakrishna of L&T Technology Services.
Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is crucial for ensuring smart electricity grids towards enabling secure two-way communication between utility companies and customers.
E.ON Study: Europe can save over one trillion euros on the way to climate neutrality
Brussels. The "Energy Playbook" presented by E.ON in Brussels shows ways in which Europe can become climate neutral by 2050 and save costs of up to 1.5 trillion euros. As Europe's largest distribution system operator and provider of sustainable customer solutions for around 50 million customers in Europe, E.ON draws on its extensive operational experience.
E.ON is convinced that the European energy transition can be significantly more cost-effective. The Energy Playbook demonstrates that prioritizing measures is a key lever for cost reduction. It would be possible to reduce the specific costs of the electricity system by around 20 percent in the long term - from 119 euros per megawatt-hour in 2023 to 95 euros per megawatt-hour in 2050. The study also emphasizes the importance of flexible and market-oriented approaches.
Large-scale pilot grid-aware charging enables shifting of charging peak
A large-scale pilot in the field of grid-aware charging at public charging stations shows promising results in reducing grid congestion. The preliminary results of a trial in Noord-Brabant and Limburg show that with limited impact for electric drivers, at least half of the charging peak can be shifted to the evening and night.
Anyone who really has to charge can also use a temporary opt-out.
2024 was another year of record investment for Alliander, although further acceleration remains crucial for people’s home and working lives, general prosperity and well-being
In 2024, network company Alliander invested just under €1.8 billion. For the sixth year in a row, more money went into expanding and maintaining gas and power grids. Power grid capacity was scaled up and flexible use created additional capacity on the existing grid. But not all businesses and consumers in Alliander’s service area felt this immediately. With it becoming increasingly challenging to keep growing and to complete implementation plans on time, there is a need to further accelerate.
Alliander is doing exactly that by working smarter and by innovating, including in how we work together with contractors and in how we schedule our technicians’ work to make the most of the available capacity. On top of that, Alliander has teamed up with public authorities, companies and consumers to find solutions for faster capacity expansion and different and more efficient ways to use the existing grid.
Caruna's year 2024: We promoted clean transition and improved the reliability of the electricity grid
The year 2024 was a significant step forward for Caruna in continuously strengthening the clean transition and security of supply. However, tightening regulations limited the company's opportunities to invest in the development of the electricity network.
The security of electricity supply has improved significantly over the past ten years, and disruptions, especially in challenging weather conditions, have decreased and shortened as security of supply investments have been made systematically to ensure reliable electricity distribution to customers.
MARKET NEWS
Another batch of smart meters to be installed for 18,000 consumers with support from Italy and UNDP
The third batch of 18.000 smart meters and associated equipment for the development of advanced metering infrastructure has been delivered. The pilot smart metering project for electricity is implemented by the Ministry of Energy, with support from UNDP Moldova and funding from the Government of Italy. The initiative contributes to more efficient energy demand management, network balancing, a resilient energy infrastructure, and alignment with European standards.
This batch complements the delivery of over 14,000 smart meters in the second phase. As a result, 32,000 smart meters will be installed throughout 2025 for consumers within the Central-South distribution network by Premier Energy Distribution and in the Northern distribution area by RED Nord. 3,000 meters were installed in 2024. Another 25,000 meters will be installed in 2026. By 2027, 60,000 households are expected to be equipped with smart meters, representing 4.3% of the total 1.4 million electricity consumers.
A Roadmap for Cost-Reflective Electricity Network Tariffs in the EU
The principle of cost-reflective network charges has been part of EU law since 2019, though it has not been fully addressed until recent EU initiatives, including the Clean Industrial Deal and the Affordable Energy Action Plan.
These efforts aim to reform tariff methodologies to incentivise flexibility and investments in electrification, with the potential for binding legislation by mid-2025.
Unlock EV flexibility to save money for customers and optimise the power grid
An electric vehicle (EV) owner in Europe could save €450 to €2,900 every year by utilising both smart & bidirectional charging – shows Eurelectric-EY’s new study. Through smart charging, EV batteries can store excess electricity and with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, they can sell it back to the grid at times of peak demand, helping balance the power grid, reduce congestion and integrate variable renewables.
Yet, consumers lack clear economic incentives to provide this service. Unlocking this potential requires clear price signals, enhanced access to flexibility markets, and interoperable data across the e-mobility ecosystem.
GEODE Unveils Key Principles for Anticipatory Investments to Future-Proof Europe’s Electricity Grids
Brussels, 11 March 2025 – GEODE, the voice of local energy distributors across Europe, is proud to present its latest publication “GEODE’s Key Principles for Anticipatory Investments”. Developed by experts from the GEODE Working Group Regulation, this paper explores the concept and role of anticipatory investments in enabling DSOs to stay ahead of customers’ needs.
To support this, it outlines eight key principles that DSOs and regulators can apply to facilitate efficient anticipatory investments.
Discover the fourth edition of the E.DSO Technology Radar
In October 2023 we first released the E.DSO Technology Radar to support DSOs in seizing the opportunities offered by emerging technologies and preparing for the challenges arising from the rapid transformation of the energy and IT sectors.
The Technology Radar’s ambition is to evaluate technological topics that have a potential impact on DSOs and their ecosystem (public authorities, suppliers, customers, and employees).
The connection between the EU energy sector and the ReArm Europe plan
The EU energy sector should be a key pillar of the ReArm Europe plan, a historic initiative newly unveiled by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to strengthen Europe’s defence industry and military capabilities.
With an estimated €800 billion ($841 billion) in mobilised funds, this plan signals a major shift in European security policy.
Report TSO-DSO Challenges & Opportunities for Digital Electricity System
As the electricity sector undergoes rapid transformation, collaboration between system operators has never been more critical. DSO Entity and ENTSO-E published today the report “TSO-DSO Challenges & Opportunities for the Digital EU Electricity System“, produced by their Joint Task Force (JTF) that marks a significant milestone in addressing the evolving landscape of grid management and energy transition.
The report underscores the critical need for digitalisation to enhance grid operation, planning, and customer integration, which is essential for achieving global and European carbon emission reduction targets. Also, it provides a comprehensive compilation of antiipated priority challenges in the transition toward a fully digitalised electricity system.
UPCOMING OSPG PARTNER EVENTS
SMARTGREENS 2025, Porto, Portugal, 2 - 3 April 2025
ICCI 2025, Istanbul, Turkey, 24-26 April 2025
Balkans Energy Summit 2025, Athens, Greece, 28 - 30 April 2025
EM-Power Europe 2025, Munich, Germany, 07 - 09 May 2025
Power and Water Nigeria Exhibition and Conference 2025, Lagos, Nigeria, 13 – 15 May 2025
India Power & Renewable Conference 2025, New Delhi, India, 15 - 16 May 2025
Global Energy Digitalisation Conclave 2025, New Delhi, India, 21 - 22 May 2025
Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC) 2025, Accra, Ghana, 27 - 29 May 2025
Japan Energy Summit & Exhibition 2025, Tokyo, Japan, 18-20 June 2025
2025 Solar PV & Energy Storage World Expo, Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August, 2025
The 10th World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE 2025), Guangzhou, China, 8 - 10 August 2025
Large Scale Solar SE 2025, Athens, Greece, 16-17 September 2025
Energy Storage Summit CEE 2025, Warsaw, Poland, 23 - 24 September 2025
Feb2025
MEMBER NEWS
Apator signed a contract worth 62.3 million PLN with Enea Operator
Apator has concluded a contract with Enea Operator for innovation partnership. The value of the contract is 62.3 million PLN. The contract covers the development, certification, production and delivery of modern remote electricity reading meters.
The project will be implemented in four stages. The first two phases involve the development of single-phase and three-phase meters that comply with Enea's requirements. The next phase includes the certification process. While the last one envisages the production and delivery of meters equipped with communication modules.
Digitalization at TAURON Dystrybucja: expansion of the teletransmission system thanks to National Reconstruction Plan
In order to meet the digitization of the power grid supervision system, TAURON Dystrybucja is expanding its teletransmission system. The investment will be fueled by funds raised under the NRP, totaling nearly PLN 40 million.
As part of the project, TAURON Dystrybucja will expand its MPLS TP [Multiprotocol Label Switching Transport Profile] teletransmission system across the operations of ten of its branches by installing and commissioning 300 complete MPLS TP devices at substations and other sensitive locations owned by the company.
Electricity demand spikes on the rise - Caruna data reveals significant changes
The municipalities in Caruna's distribution area with the highest temperature-adjusted increase in electricity use in 2024 compared to December of the previous year were Espoo, Joensuu and Närpiö. Overall, temperature-adjusted electricity consumption increased by 6% in all regions compared to the previous year.
In contrast, a significant increase was seen in instantaneous demand peaks, i.e. power demand. In the Caruna region as a whole, the increase was 28% and in Espoo as much as 46% compared to January 2023, indicating a growing demand for electricity, especially in peak demand situations.
How a microgrid is making a Swedish island independent of the power grid
The Stockholm archipelago is world famous for its 30,000 islands. In the far north lies the island of Archolma, which for many embodies the beauty of the archipelago: red cottages with white decorations are scattered throughout the beautiful cultural landscape, and bare cliffs gently slope down to the surrounding Baltic Sea. Not surprisingly, Archolma has been one of the most popular islands for summer tourists for over a century.
Today, the island uses an innovative technology: advanced control of energy storage and solar panels allows it to interrupt communication with the mainland without leaving about 250 residents in the dark for even a second. In the event of a power outage, the Arholma grid immediately switches to island mode, meaning it operates on its own microgrid resources based on intelligent control of large energy storage and solar panels.
Norlys opens new lightning charging park near Køge
Norlys can now open the next in a series of planned rapid charging parks across the country.
On Thursday, February 20, the turn has come to Køge, where Norlys inaugurates a fast charging park with 6 fast chargers, making it possible for 12 electric car drivers to charge simultaneously.
Drone scans on a Large Scale as the “Google Maps of Thermal Efficiency”
E.ON and the Coventry City Council in the UK are leveraging their strategic energy partnership to collaborate with the technology startup Kestrix to obtain large-scale data on thermal efficiency, particularly heat losses, and thereby improve energy efficiency on a large scale. The so-called “Google Maps of Thermal Efficiency” is based on drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and innovative 3D heat loss modelling.
The drones scan houses from a bird’s eye view at a distance of about 50 meters and can accurately quantify how and where heat escapes from buildings. This examination takes only a few minutes. Compared to the traditional model of house visits, which can take several hours, this means significant savings in time and costs. The new solution also provides a much clearer picture of how much it costs to heat a house and how heat losses can be remedied. Energy efficiency measures can thus be optimally targeted at those households with the greatest heat loss. The 3D heat loss models show improvement potential on a large scale, and machine learning algorithms provide insights into which improvements are best and most cost-effective.
MARKET NEWS
EBRD helping Montenegro’s energy sector to invest in digitalisation
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a loan of up to €35 million to Crnogorski Elektrodistributivni Sistem (CEDIS) to support the development of Montenegro’s energy sector. This will be used to finance the implementation of a new supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system and an advanced distribution management system (ADMS), as well as the procurement of new smart meters. The project is also aiming to benefit from a grant under the European Union’s Western Balkans Investment Framework. CEDIS owns and operates power distribution networks of up to 35 kV in Montenegro and is fully owned by Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG).
The SCADA system will be used to monitor and control medium-voltage grid networks in real time, while an ADMS is an advanced platform that optimises the management and operation of an electricity distribution system. Smart meters help users and utility companies to monitor and manage electricity usage more efficiently, reducing losses and improving reliability.
GEODE Energy Communities Factsheet: Showcasing Best Practices and Recommendations to Empower DSOs as Key Enablers
Brussels, 3 February 2025 – GEODE, the voice of local energy distributors across Europe, is proud to present its latest factsheet “Energy Communities: A DSO Approach”. This publication, developed by experts from GEODE Working Group Customer Dialogue, addresses the role of local Distribution System Operators (DSOs) within Energy Communities (ECs). By offering actionable recommendations and showcasing best practices and first-hand experiences from our members, the factsheet provides valuable guidance on empowering DSOs as key enablers of ECs.
Amid the ongoing transformation of the energy system to phase out fossil fuels, ECs play a pivotal role in driving the energy transition. Serving as facilitators of collective and citizen-led actions, ECs facilitate the reshaping of energy systems into decentralized structures that prioritise community engagement.
Flowering flexibility: Going Dutch on grid congestion
Financial incentives in the Netherlands are trying to bring consumer flexibility into the Dutch congestion management equation. But how effective are they? Yusuf Latief investigates.
With the explosive proliferation of distributed energy resources onto Europe’s distribution grids, questions abound as to their management.
Smart Meter Rollout: The Situation in Germany and How It Must Be Improved
The digitalization of the German energy system depends on smart meters being rolled out. To make power consumption flexible, we need effective digitalization. Mr. Petereit, how advanced is digitalization in Germany?
In September 2024, more than one million smart meters had been installed across Germany. This may sound like a lot, but in actual truth this number is disappointing. Germany has around 53 million metering points. These are locations where electricity is measured. In other words, so far only 1.9 percent of metering locations are equipped with a smart meter. This is nowhere near enough, because after all, smart meters are the precondition for making power consumption flexible. Without digitalization there is no flexibility, and without flexibility the energy transition cannot proceed. The digitalization shortfall creates a real problem for the switch to a low-cost power supply and is increasingly threatening system stability.
Growth in global electricity demand is set to accelerate in the coming years as power-hungry sectors expand
Increase in electricity consumption through 2027 expected to average around 4% annually, driven by growing use for industry, air conditioning, electrification and data centres
The world’s electricity consumption is forecast to rise at its fastest pace in recent years, growing at close to 4% annually through 2027 as power use climbs in a range of sectors across the economy, according to a new IEA report released today.
The tasks facing Europe’s DSOs in 2025
The DSO Entity work programme for DSOs for 2025 envisages grids remaining high on the agenda and the shift in focus from the Green Deal to the Clean Industrial Deal.
In its Annual Work Programme 2025 publication, the DSO Entity points to 2025 as a special year as the first full year of the EU’s new legislative term and importantly will be decisive for reaching the landmark 2030 energy and climate ambitions.
Europe needs an energy security strategy based on clean electrification
Cables in the Baltic repeatedly sabotaged, devastating storms leaving Ireland in the dark, war raging in Ukraine and price shocks caused by Russia’s fuel disruptions: Europe’s energy system is being challenged like never before. Meanwhile, Europe is decarbonising its economy with clean and renewable power set to meet 60% of final energy use by 2050.
As energy needs evolve, so should Europe’s energy security strategy. A new study by Compass Lexecon, commissioned by Eurelectric, demonstrates the need for a new approach to energy security based on clean electrification to reduce fuel imports dependence, lower exposure to commodities price shocks and boost crises resilience.
UPCOMING OSPG PARTNER EVENTS
Africa Energy Indaba 2025, Cape Town, South Africa, 4 - 6 March 2025
2nd annual Energy Transition Summit, London, United Kingdom, 10 March 2025
Energy Evolution Expo & Conference 2025, Madrid, Spain, 13-15 March 2025
Future of Utilities Energy Transition Summit 2025, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 19 - 20 March 2025
DISTRIBUTECH 2025, Dallas, USA, 24 - 27 March 2025
Large Scale Solar EU 2025, Lisbon, Portugal, 25-26 March 2025
SMARTGREENS 2025, Porto, Portugal, 2 - 3 April 2025
ICCI 2025, Istanbul, Turkey, 24-26 April 2025
Balkans Energy Summit 2025, Athens, Greece, 28 - 30 April 2025
EM-Power Europe 2025, Munich, Germany, 07 - 09 May 2025
Power and Water Nigeria Exhibition and Conference 2025, Lagos, Nigeria, 13 – 15 May 2025
India Power & Renewable Conference 2025, New Delhi, India, 15 - 16 May 2025
Global Energy Digitalisation Conclave 2025, New Delhi, India, 21 - 22 May 2025
Japan Energy Summit & Exhibition 2025, Tokyo, Japan, 18-20 June 2025
2025 Solar PV & Energy Storage World Expo, Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August, 2025
The 10th World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE 2025), Guangzhou, China, 8 - 10 August 2025
Large Scale Solar SE 2025, Athens, Greece, 16-17 September 2025
Energy Storage Summit CEE 2025, Warsaw, Poland, 23 - 24 September 2025