REN plays an active role in innovation and technological development in the energy sector.
It participates in international projects and is involved in research projects and discussion forums. These forums include the Conseil International des Grands Réseaux Electriques (CIGRÉ), the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO), Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), European Energy Regulators (ERGEG) and the Gas Regional Initiative.
It currently has employees involved in 14 of the 16 CIGRÉ working committees that discuss issues posing challenges to the sector. REN is represented at the highest level on the Board of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), which was set up in late 2008 from regional TSO associations and is intended to constitute a forum for discussing the main issues related to the transmission of electricity in a market environment.
In 2008, the Group’s gas sector companies kept up international contacts with the working groups of the three columns of GIE - Gas Infrastructures Europe, in the areas of liquefied natural gas, high-pressure transport and underground storage. REN’s involvement in research and development projects goes back a long way. An additional aim has been to consolidate REN’s position in the natural-gas sector, given that investment in this field will strengthen the competitive position of both the Group and Portugal. In 2008, REN invested EUR 1.5 million in research and development.
Participation in a range of projects has enabled REN to keep pace with, achieve or even surpass best international practices in operational technologies and grid construction, and also in environmental matters. To that end, it has sought partnerships with top universities and research centres at home and abroad, to deal with issues such as the unpredictability of wind energy, contingency risks, security of supply and noise.
In 2008, REN participated in the following projects:
For gas, within the sphere of Gas Infrastructures Europe (GIE)’s working groups, REN helped in drawing up the forward scenario for winter 2008-2009 and responded to the first phase of requirements for preparing the Ten Year Network Development Statement, which analyses Portugal’s gas infrastructure capacity. Preparation of the former document is one of the responsibilities of the future European Network Transmission System Operator – Gas (ENTSOG), the establishment of which is set forth in the Third Energy Package and is expected to receive European Union approval in 2009.
In addition, the gas companies continue to monitor the activities of the Gas Regional Initiative – South, coordinated by the French, Spanish and Portuguese regulators. In particular, they are monitoring the implementation of market-consultation mechanisms for developing new infrastructure based on the “open seasons” principle, and mechanisms for allocating remaining capacity, based on open subscription periods, for short- and long-term capacity. This process is underway for connections between the Spanish and French gas networks across the Pyrenees.
Within the scope of Mibgás, in 2008 a series of joint projects was carried out between Enagás and REN. In particular, their aim was to identify solutions to interoperability problems that still exist between the two countries’ gas networks, and to carry out preliminary studies to assess whether it is worth establishing a new connection between the two systems. The purpose would be to optimize the importance to the Iberian peninsula’ of underground natural-gas storage at Carriço, and to improve both countries’ security of supply, given that the connection would be two-way and would facilitate reverse flow in emergencies or in the event of disruption of the gas supply via the usual routes.