The third list of European energy infrastructure projects of common interest (PCIs) unveiled by the European Commission on Friday 24 November contains 173 projects, 110 of which are in the electricity and smart networks sector, 53 in the gas sector and 6 in the oil sector. For the first time, 4 cross-border carbon dioxide transport network projects are included.
The projects selected in the electricity and smart networks sector seek, in particular, to integrate energy produced from renewable sources into the grids, to assure energy transport over long distances and to increase the robustness and flexibility of the network.
The projects in the gas sector seek to improve diversification and to complete the integration of energy markets both within and outside the EU.
Those selected in the oil sector look to diversify oil supply in the centre-east region of the EU to improve energy security.
This third PCI list has 22 projects fewer than the second list adopted in 2015, essentially because 30 projects (22 in the gas sector and 8 in the electricity sector) that featured in the first and second lists will have been completed by the start of 2018.
The projects on this third list also seek to address effectively the vulnerability of the countries of the Eastern Baltic, Central Europe and the South-East Europe regions in terms of diversification, despite the very great resilience of the gas infrastructure in the EU as a whole.
To qualify as a PCI, an energy infrastructure project must have a significant impact on security of supply in at least two EU countries, promote market integration and national networks, help the connection of countries affected by energy isolation, boost competition on energy markets and contribute to the sustainability goals by supporting, for example, the generation of renewable energy.
PCIs may benefit from accelerated planning and permit granting, and streamlined regulatory conditions.
They also have the right to apply for funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which has an envelope of €5.35 billion for trans-European energy infrastructure for the 2014-2020 period.
The Commission will present the PCI list – as a delegated regulation – to the European Parliament and the Council, which will have two months to decide whether to accept or oppose it.
The PCI list can be found at: https://goo.gl/ftCTkt (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)