Better focus, quality for the SmartGrids platform
The European Technology Platform for Electricity Networks of the Future, also called SmartGrids ETP, consists of representatives from industry, transmission and distribution system operators, research bodies and regulators. It was developed in response to the growing need to renew Europe’s power grid. Its vision for electricity networks of the future includes flexibility, accessibility, reliability and cost-efficiency with, of course, a focus on sustainability. The ‘Secretariat of the Technology Platform for the Electricity Networks of the Future’ (Smartgrids-TPS) project was initiated to obtain funding for and achieve establishment of a secretariat to support the activities of the SmartGrids ETP. Specifically, the secretariat was created to coordinate research activity related to future European electricity networks, to monitor the results of platform projects via regular progress and quality reviews and to disseminate results to the energy sector. One example of recent secretariat activity was its involvement in a task force of the European Road and Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC). The task force has prepared a roadmap for electrification of transportation in Europe and the secretariat represented the SmartGrids platform and provided input related to SmartGrids activity and its relativity to ERTRAC. the SmartGrids vision paper, strategic research plan and related information can be found on the SmartGrids website at http://www.smartgrids.eu(opens in new window) online. With the addition of a secretariat to focus effort and ensure quality, the electricity networks of the future just might be here tomorrow.