ISGAN has launched a new Policy Brief focusing on future-proofing grid planning processes to accelerate the energy transition. The Policy Brief was developed as part of the ISGAN knowledge sharing project (KSP) on Network Planning under Uncertainty and was launched at an official side event during the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM-14) /Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-8), hosted in Goa, India. The event was hosted by the Indian Ministry of Power and the Department of Science and Technology.

The key policy messages of the Policy Brief were presented during an official side event to CEM-14/MI-8 titled: “CEM ISGAN – MI GPFM collaboration for power system transformation, with special focus on policy and private sector engagement.”

For further information on the Network Planning Under Uncertainty project, please contact:

  • Helena Lindquist, ISGAN Communication Working Group, Task 3: Structured Knowledge Exchange
  • Susanne Ackeby, ISGAN Working Group 6, Power Transmission & Distribution Systems

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May 22, 2023


Possible Design Elements of Consumer Support Schemes

The very high prices that have been observed in electricity markets since September 2021 and exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine have sparked the adoption of different types of support schemes across Europe. This brief fact sheet describes possible design elements to consider for support schemes aimed at final electricity customers. The fact sheet is purely descriptive and not prescriptive.

State of play

In 2021 and 2022 extraordinarily high prices have been observed in electricity markets across Europe. The main reason behind the high electricity prices is the high price of natural gas, which is used to generate electricity. Natural gas-fired power plants are often needed to satisfy the demand for electricity when the demand is at its highest or when the volumes of electricity generated from other technologies such as nuclear, hydro, or variable renewable energy sources do not suffice to cover demand. Hence, natural gas is often said to be the price-setting technology in the European electricity system. Demand for natural gas and electricity increased as economies opened up after the pandemic lockdowns but also due to the 2022 high summer temperatures and the resulting increased cooling demand in parts of Europe. At the same time electricity generation from certain technologies, e.g., nuclear, has been below historical levels due to technical and weather-dependent circumstances. The Russian invasion of Ukraine added a supply shock that further exacerbated the constraints and pushed prices up.


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May 18, 2023


Methods for Customer Dialogue

Customers stand as an important part of the energy transition. For several actors that interact with the energy market, it is important to understand the customers’ perspectives and driving forces. National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) as well as market actors benefit from increased customer knowledge. In this fact sheet, the Swedish Energy Markets Inspectorate (Ei) summarizes several methods for customer dialogue which can be used by NRAs and other actors to compile and make use of customer perspectives.

The importance of customer dialogue

All actors are needed in the transition of the energy system, not least the end-users, also referred to as the customers. This group may for example provide their demand-side flexibility. However, the incentives today can be seen as being too weak and the barriers to participate with flexibility too high.


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February 6, 2023


Flexibility harvesting and its impact on stakeholders interaction – final report

Globally, the energy sector is continuously striving towards the most reliable, cost- effective environmentally friendly production, transmission and distribution of energy. Recent regulatory frameworks have prompted the urgent strive to become carbon neutral and with an increase in the transition to sustainable energy resources.

Within the ever-changing modern power system, power flows are increasingly transitioning towards becoming controllable and bi-directional. The modern power systems are faced with increased challenges pertaining to the integration of new technologies and devices. On the one hand, the need to integrate highly volatile and decentralised renewable energy sources (such as photovoltaic and wind), while on the other hand, power systems are seeing an increase in loads and capacity due to electrification of the transport, storage and heating/cooling sector (e.g., electric vehicles and heat pumps). Additionally, a change in consumer behaviour and evolving markets are also influencing this transition Such activities create increasing complexities and challenges due to the unpredictability in power flows within the power system. In order to overcome these challenges, system operators are relying on the use of flexibility which offer a wide range of opportunities and sought-after solution by providing a wide range of important services, which can enable system operators in operating their networks in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. However, utilisation of these resources to their full potential requires increased coordination between all relevant stakeholders in the power system. This increased interaction will not only allow for system operators to support each other in the optimal use of their respective grids, but also ensure that operating strategies in one network do not have any negative impact on the other. Furthermore, increased interactions with large and small system end users will allow for increased participation and therefore increased opportunities available from flexible resources.


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February 6, 2023


Flexibility harvesting and its impact on stakeholder interaction – Explained

Within the global context, the electrical energy system is transitioning in the way that electricity is generated, transmitted and distributed. Due to these changes, system operators are faced with various challenges (technical, ICT, regulatory and economic) to accommodate new technologies due to the drive toward modern power systems. However, these changes have also allowed for the increased opportunity for system development and the inclusion of new market players. Flexibility will provide network operators (together with other stakeholders such as prosumers, aggregators, etc.) with the possibility to increase the stability of the electrical system and ensure a safe, secure and reliable supply. Stakeholder interaction is key to facilitate and enable the integration and utilization of flexibility in future power systems.

The following video presents the concepts related to the electricity transition and the challenges faced by system operators when integrating flexibility into their networks. Furthermore, through the implementations of coordination schemes, systems operators can work together in order to ensure the safe, secure and reliable electric systems of the future.


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