Eight European grid operators launch Innovation Alliance to improve resilience and efficiency of their electricity grids

BRUSSELS | Eight leading European transmission system operators (TSOs), including Elia Transmission Belgium and 50Hertz, are today officially launching the Innovation Alliance. Formed in recognition of the strategic importance of electricity grids and the challenges they face, the Alliance will develop shared solutions for boosting the resilience, efficiency and technological advancement of electricity infrastructure. As part of this, the Alliance will organise its work into innovation programmes that will each be focused on critical areas of interest. The first of these will be ‘Weather and Grid Resilience’ and will seek to address the operational and infrastructure risks posed by increasingly unpredictable weather events. 

Shared challenges, shared solutions

As the energy transition progresses, so our responsibilities as TSOs and the challenges we face are becoming steadily more complex. To ensure that our grids remain effective, secure and cost efficient, we must continue to adopt new tools and approaches for the development, operation and maintenance of our infrastructure. Collaboration with actors from across the electricity sector and beyond plays a key part in this.

It is in this vein that the Innovation Alliance was founded by our two TSOs – Elia Transmission Belgium and 50Hertz (Germany) – and six of their European counterparts: Terna (Italy); RTE (France); Swissgrid (Switzerland); TenneT (the Netherlands); Red Eléctrica (Spain); and Amprion (Germany). Led by common priorities and issues, the members of the Alliance will leverage their collective expertise and resources to successfully meet the shared challenges posed by the energy transition.

First innovation programme: weather and grid resilience

‘Weather and Grid Resilience’ has been selected as the theme of the Alliance’s first programme. This will involve focusing on the way that weather impacts the grid’s operational security.   

"About a year ago, a heavy storm toppled over nine pylons in the Mechelen area in Belgium. It also brought down several conductors, most of which ended up in fields and some of which fell onto around 15 homes. In May 2024, a so-called supercell caused severe damage in Saxony. A total of 17 pylons were bent over by the storm. Working on a risk preparedness plan so that we can adapt our infrastructure so it remains resistant to climate change is therefore high on our agenda. Every good plan starts with identifying the risks involved. Last year, we worked with an association of German research institutes. They have specific models which assessed the impact that certain weather phenomena could have on our infrastructure. Additionally, we are now working on a risk preparedness plan at the European level. Examples of what this collaboration could work on include a heat wave in Europe or extreme drought that could impact several countries at once."
Bernard Gustin, CEO of Elia Group

Later this year, the Alliance will launch its first call for proposals: European start-ups will be invited to submit cutting-edge solutions related to this theme. The most promising ideas will then be selected by the Alliance for testing via joint proofs of concept. More information will be published about this on the Elia Group innovation website in due course.

Continuous collaboration

Members of the Innovation Alliance will meet regularly to discuss emerging technologies and methodologies, share best practice, identify innovative solutions that are worthy of further exploration, and develop pilot projects. By allowing its members to pool their knowledge and resources, the Alliance will therefore support the efficient development of approaches and tools that will boost the technological advancement, resilience and efficiency of electricity infrastructure. Ultimately, this will ensure that TSOs continue to provide consumers with access to affordable, reliable and decarbonised electricity.