ENTSO-E Technopedia
Welcome to ENTSO-E’s new tool, the Technopedia!
Energy transition is underway, we help you to keep up with the new technologies related to the Transmission System Operators. Below you will find factsheets of different innovative and state-of-the-art technologies covering the fields of transmission assets, system operations, digital and flexibility solutions. These up-to-date sheets will help you to understand each technology and their advantages, and also to show their readiness level.
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) / Blockchain
DLT is an asset database that is shared and stored across a decentralized network of different and i...
High Temperature Superconductors (HTS) Cables
Superconducting cables are based on special superconducting materials that are cooled down to very l...
5G Digital cellular networks
5G is the 5th generation cellular network technology that provides broadband access. The 5G wireless...
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
In nowadays life, Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a significant role in Social Media and Streamin...
Cloud and Edge computing
Cloud computing is a type of computing that relies on shared computing resources rather than hav...
Digital Twin (DT)
The new Digital Twin (DT) approach in production and Asset Management claims to optimize the value c...
Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet was established to transfer files and share information between local area networks – t...
Satellite applications
Satellites can be used for many different applications like communication, broadcasting, navigation,...
Software-Defined Security (SDS)
SDS is a model in which the information security is controlled. The functions of network security d...
Static Synchronous Compensation (STATCOM)
A STATic synchronous COMpensator (STATCOM) is nowadays a fast-acting device capable of providing or ...
Voltage Source Converters (VSC)
Voltage Source Converters (VSC) are a self-commutated converters to connect HVAC and HVDC systems us...
Gas Insulated Substation
Gas insulated substation (GIS) consist of components where active parts on high voltage potential ar...
Large-scale DC Overlay Grid concepts
DC overlay systems are quite radical evolutions of the legacy of AC interconnected systems developed...
Synchronous condenser
A synchronous condenser (also called a synchronous capacitor or synchronous compensator) is a DC-exc...
Static Synchronous Series Compensator
Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC) is a power quality FACTS device that employs a voltage ...
DC Gas Insulated Switchgear – DC Gas Insulated Substation
Gas-insulated switchgear assemblies for DC application (DC GIS) provide a compact technical solution...
Gas Insulated Lines (GIL) AC
In Gas Insulated Lines (GIL), the inner conductor is located a pipe of approximate dimeter of 50cm. ...
Phase Shifting Transformers (PST)
A Phase Shifting Transformer (PST) is a specialised type of transformer, typically used to control t...
New tower concepts
The main components of overhead line are towers, tower foundation, conductors and insulators. The ta...
Adaptive Protection Technology
Conventional protection system has relays with fixed setting parameters. With the growing complexity...
Mixed technology substations
MTS incorporate the use of air-insulated and gas insulated components and switchgear. In a substatio...
Partial Undergrounding
Partial undergrounding with cables can be a solution where public acceptance or environmental impact...
Circuit breakers - AC
A circuit breaker (CB) refers to a mechanical switching device, capable of making, carrying and brea...
HVDC Circuit Breakers
The HVDC circuit breaker is a switching device that interrupts the flow of normal and abnormal direc...
Voltage Uprating
Increase of the voltage level allows significant increase of the transmission capacity in existing r...
(Variable) Shunt Reactor (V)SR
Shunt Reactors are used in high voltage energy transmission systems to control the voltage during lo...
Gas Insulated Lines (GIL) DC
Direct Current Gas Insulated Lines (GIL), known as DC CTL – Compact Transmission Line for HVDC, is a...
HVDC Mass Impregnated (MI) cables
HVDC Mass Impregnated (MI) cables are a very consolidated and traditional technology mainly deployed...
HVDC XLPE (Cross-linked Polyethylene)
Favourable installation, operation and testing parameters have led to the development of extruded in...
AC Power Transformers (with tap changer)
AC Extra High Voltage (EHV) power transformers are an essential component of the power system enabli...
Dynamic Line Rating (DLR)
Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) of overhead lines (OHL) uses the fact, that the ampacity of OHL depends on...
Fault Current Limiter (FCL)
Fault Current Limiters (FCLs) act as an additional high impedance to limit high fault currents to an...
Asset Management Tools and Procedures
Asset Management is one of the most important chapter in the operation of the power system (and ener...
Digital Fault Recorders
A digital fault recorder (DFR) is an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED)^1 that samples binary dat...
Hybrid AC/DC OHL
Hybrid AC/DC overhead line (OHL) is a technology used to increase the transmission capacity of exist...
Current Source Converters (CSC)
Line Commutated Converters (LCC) are the conventional, mature and well-established technology used t...
Enhanced Load Forecasting
Conventional load forecasting techniques have been widely used in the past 30 years. These forecasts...
Enhanced RES Infeed Forecasting (wind only)
The massive penetration of weather-dependent Renewable Energy Sources (RES) generation brings severa...
Drones and Robotics
Power grid inspection and asset management are an integral part of power grid maintenance. Drones an...
Conventional conductors
High Voltage AC Overhead Lines (OHL) are most commonly used for the transmission of energy. Thereby ...
High Temperature Low Sag conductors (HTLS)
High Temperature Low Sag Conductors (HTLS) can withstand higher operating temperatures of up to 210°...
HVAC XLPE (Cross-linked Polyethylene)
HVAC cables are typically used as an alternative transmission technology when overhead lines are not...
Synthetic Inertia
Inertia is the capability of a system to store kinetic energy in rotating mass. There is no commonly...
Demand response to information
Information about own consumption patterns, and sometimes electricity prices or consequences of this...
Demand response to price
Variable spot prices, time-of-use tariffs and variable grid tariffs provide incentives for small-sca...
Microgrid for reliability of supply
Microgrids become increasingly independent of the grid when there is communal storage and increased ...
Local energy trading
Market platforms for local energy trading, including peer-to-peer trading, are currently being devel...
Voltage market (for distributed energy resources)
Voltage control services are needed when there are sudden changes in demand. This is because the amo...
Aggregation of industrial demand
Aggregation of industrial demand can increase participation in balancing and flexibility markets fro...
Market Coordination platforms
Flexibility market platforms offer integrated solutions for purchasing and selling electricity produ...
Virtual power plants
Aggregation of distributed renewable energy generation and batteries enables their participation in ...
Aggregation of small-scale demand
Aggregation of small-scale demand is necessary in the present power systems for small loads to be ab...
Battery for reliability of supply
To avoid blackouts or to enable a black start it is useful for the power grid that parts of it can b...
Black start from generation (distributed energy resources)
The large growth in distributed energy resources (DER) presents an opportunity to develop a new appr...
Supercapacitor in Hybrid Storage
This solution describes a supercapacitor which is used in combination with flywheel and battery stor...
Battery technology
The solution consist of utilising the fast and versatile nature of batteries to provide ancillary se...
LAES/CAES + Flywheel
Mechanical storage includes storage methods like Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), Liquid Air En...
Hydrogen and methane production
Electricity can be stored in chemical products like hydrogen and methane. These production facilitie...
Flexible generation
Controllable power production can contribute to frequency balancing, adequacy and congestion managem...
Electric vehicle demand response
Electric vehicle (EV) chargers, particularly “super-fast” ones, can pose challenges for congestion m...
Industrial demand response for congestion management and adequacy
Power-intensive industry can adjust their consumption of power to the production of power in the gri...
Thermal storage
Thermal storage uses heat to store energy so that when demand peaks, the heat can produce electricit...
Industrial demand response for frequency balancing and voltage control
Power-intensive industry has large loads and fast response time, and therefore already offer reserve...