On 8 December in Brussels, experts from the four European associations representing DSOs (CEDEC, EDSO for Smart Grids, EURELECTRIC and GEODE) and experts from ENTSO-E, the formal European body representing TSOs, met for the third time as part of the TSO-DSO platform to get a better understanding of a key element of active system management, namely congestion management.

The meeting was held in the presence of the European Commission and was chaired by Christian Buchel, Deputy CEO, Chief Digital & International Officer of Enedis, and Ben Voorhorst, COO of TenneT and President of ENTSO-E. Both highlighted the relevance of building a common understanding, ensuring at the same time seamless coordination between system operators and all stakeholders so as to foster the energy transition.

One principle that was previously achieved and agreed in the TSO-DSO data management report is that TSOs and DSOs are part of “one system” and that they shall not invoke any action at system level which would have a harmful impact on each other’s operations.

Having established a solid ground for system operation, the group of experts focused on understanding and sharing common views on congestion management processes, on the need for coordination between congestion management processes of TSOs and DSOs, as well as between the congestion management processes and the balancing process operated by the TSOs.

Specifications of congestion management products, possibility for having different products and the need for data exchange between system operators on bid activation and bids located in a congested area or endangering a possible congestion, were highly debated.

Finally, the TSO/DSO experts worked on identifying the need for European guidance on the use of distributed flexibilities, taking into account that national characteristics are very important in this debate.

A follow-up exchange with wider stakeholder attendance is foreseen in early 2018. More information will be announced on the respective associations’ websites.