Rapporteur:

Andrés BARCELÓ DELGADO

1.1.

1.2.

1.3.

1.4.

1.5.

1.6.

1.7.

1.8.

1.9.

1.10.

1.11.

1.12.

2.1.

In particular, for 2020 it has set itself the challenge of Member States achieving 10 % interconnection with their neighbouring countries. In addition, in order to ensure that the implementation of the renewable generation targets is accompanied by adequate development of interconnections, the European Council agreed to raise the 2030 electricity interconnection target to 15 %.

2.2.

2.3.

The third list of PCIs, which is still awaiting approval by the European Parliament, identifies 173 projects that will contribute to achieving the interconnection targets for 2020 and 2030.

Despite the aims of the list and the existing support measures, the technical difficulties inherent in the projects and the political and administrative implications and lack of public support mean that less than 30 % of the 173 projects included in the third review of the PCIs carried out in 2017 will be completed by 2020.

This delay is partly due to the fact that the national application of the TEN-E rules has not been fully carried out.

2.4.

2.4.1.   Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan

The policy priority is synchronisation of the Baltic States’ electricity grid with the continental European network and ending the isolation of gas networks as well as dependence on one gas source in the Baltic States and Finland.

The EESC fully supports a political agreement to boost the completion of the gas PCIs by 2021, both the Estonia-Finland interconnection and the Poland–Lithuania interconnection.

2.4.2.   Iberian peninsula (Madrid Declaration)

Regrettably, despite the approval of the Bay of Biscay line, the interconnections between the Iberian peninsula and the rest of Europe fall short of the targets in place for 2020, and far short of those set for 2030.

The level of interconnection between Spain and Portugal does not solve the underlying problem of the lack of connections between the Iberian peninsula and France, as the only way to connect the peninsula to Europe and integrate it into the internal market is via France, with interconnections with this country currently around 2,8 %.

This low share of interconnections contributes to making electricity prices in the Iberian peninsula among the highest in Europe and means that the cost for the system of integrating renewables is also very high, with a need for large back-up power capabilities and the implementation of procedures making it possible to manage high volatility in the energy generation mix. The recent statements by President Macron show key political support for the two interconnections across the Pyrenees that are — still — in their infancy.

2.4.3.   Central South Eastern energy connectivity

This region is vulnerable to supply disruptions and pays a higher gas price than the rest of the EU, despite its geographical proximity to its gas supplier.

The main objectives are the launch of the Bulgaria-Serbia interconnector, the start of investment in the Krk liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal (in the first half of 2018) and the start of construction of the Romanian part of the Bulgaria-Austria corridor.

2.4.4.   North Seas energy cooperation

The main objective has focused on combining renewable generation and transmission, as well as on establishing a legal and regulatory framework that is conducive to such projects in an area with a wind generating potential of between 4 % and 12 % of the EU’s consumption, by 2030.

3.1.

3.2.

Digitalisation will mean that the proportion of new investment projects devoted to systems will be increasingly significant.

3.3.

3.4.

3.5.

3.6.

According to the Commission’s own data, the target of 15 % electricity interconnections by 2030 seems unlikely to be achieved, especially if a proper analysis is carried out by ‘geographical bottleneck’ rather than just by Member State.

3.7.

These three thresholds directly link the targets for the development of renewables and integration into the internal market with the interconnection targets, thereby making positive progress towards achieving all of them.

3.8.

The Baltic countries, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland and Romania meet two of the three thresholds, while the remaining Member States can be considered to be fully integrated in that they meet the three thresholds.

3.9.

3.10.

In addition, for those projects that will significantly increase the current interconnection capacity in points which are below the 10 % target, all available financial instruments, such as the CEF, the European Structural and Investment Funds and the European Fund for Strategic Investments, must be used. These projects should be subject to their own specific rules, with stronger EU governance arrangements for projects that speed up their implementation.

3.11.

Concerted action is needed from all concerned, including Member States, transmission system operators, promoters and regulators. Initiatives such as the Energy Infrastructure Forum held annually in Copenhagen, in which all of those actors are able to get actively involved, are very positive in trying to find solutions to the problems of developing interconnection projects.

4.1.

4.2.

4.3.

5.1.

5.2.

5.3.

5.4.

6.1.

Without interconnections, the policy of promoting renewable energies will lead to high price volatility, a need for greater investment in ‘support technologies’ and wasted renewable energy production at times when higher generation occurs alongside a fall in consumption.

6.2.

6.3.

7.1.

7.2.

7.3.