Med-TSO, the association of Mediterranean region electricity transmission network operators has identified and assessed 14 interconnection projects in the Euro-Mediterranean region, corresponding to about 18 gigawatts of new interconnection capacity, requiring grid reinforcements for about 2,200 kilometres of new high voltage lines and 840 kilometres of transmission lines. The estimated additional investments amount to about €16 billion, according to the findings of a study unveiled at a conference in the European Parliament on Tuesday 10 April.
The study, which was co-financed by the EU to the tune of €3.22 million, was launched in 2015 with the principal objective of promoting the progressive integration of the electricity power systems of the two shores of the Mediterranean, aiming at the progressive harmonisation and strengthening of the electricity markets in the Mediterranean region, Med-TSO states.
The event was sponsored by MEP Simona Bonafé (S&D, Italy) and the conference was addressed by her S&D colleagues Gilles Pargneaux (France) and José Blanco Lopez (Spain), and by Director Neighbourhood South, DG Development Cooperation of the European Commission Michael Koehler. Med-TSO highlighted the different actions undertaken as part of the study to meet the future challenges to be faced in providing a secure infrastructure network in the region: - the development a Mediterranean electricity master plan and the definition of a map of the transmission grid; - the definition of a set of rules as a basis for a regional grid code; - the optimisation of the international electricity exchanges; - the creation of a Mediterranean database.
The study can be found at: https://goo.gl/YuGTui. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)