The paramount importance of a reliable and secure grid for generating, transmitting and distributing electricity has been reaffirmed by the European Commission through its proposed energy market legislation. Much of the European grid infrastructure that is used today was designed and constructed almost 50 years ago. These infrastructures were not created for the high-level and random nature of electric power transactions in today’s European markets. Indeed the reliability-based power flows that result from competitive markets often result in grid congestion because of generation re-dispatch.

In the age of technology and communication growing levels of automation and computer controls require an electric grid that has more capacity than the current offering. It requires real-time response; no outages and power quality disturbances; more transmission and distribution capacity; improved grid congestion; and enhancements that enable new power supplies, both central-station and distributed energy resources, to be integrated to deliver electricity for meeting the growing requirements of the economy.

Understanding those requirements, and the strategies and solutions for tackling them, has never been more pressing or more challenging — hence, Platts is launching its inaugural European Transmission and Distribution Strategies conference in Amsterdam on February 4–5. Building on the success of our long-running series of energy events in Europe, the conference will explore in depth all the core sector areas as well as significant related topics, including asset management, substations and protective systems, predictive and preventive maintenance, economics and viability of T&D grids and telecommunication and information systems. As well as examining a number of case studies showing how new projects have been implemented across Europe and elsewhere.

Providing unrivalled business and networking opportunities, Platts European Transmission and Distribution Strategies conference promises to be an unmissable annual event for all those active across the electricity grid market.

Speakers who have already confirmed their participation include:

• Håkon Borgen, Executive Vice President, Statnett, Norway
• Micheal Kranhold, Head of Department, TSO-Cooperation, Vattenfall Europe Transmission, Germany
• Grace Samodal, Chief Operations Officer, Imera Ltd
• Klaas Hommes, Project Manager Congestion Management at TenneT TSO BV , The Netherlands
• Juan Manuel Rodriguez-Garcia, Head of International Affairs Department, Red Electrica de Espana, Spain
• Gido Brouns, Risk Manager, Enexis, The Netherlands
• Cloda Jenkins, Head of Regulatory Review, OFGEM, UK
• François Nguyen, Senior Policy Advisor - Electricity Markets, IEA, France
• Nikos Hatziargyriou, Vice Chairman and Deputy CEO, Public Power Corporation, Greece
• Emanuele Colombo, Head of Power System & Markets R&D Department, RTE, France
• CEZ, Czech Republic
• EDP Distribuição - Energia, S.A., Portugal

For more information about the conference, contact:

Stacey Knox
Tel: +44-20-7176-6226
stacey_knox@platts.com

Speaking opportunities, contact:

Saloi Benbaha
Tel: +44-20-7176-6227
saloi_benbaha@platts.com

Sponsorship opportunities, contact:

Michelle Thorby
Tel: +44-20-7176-6229
michelle_thorby@platts.com

For media inquiries, contact:

Sheryl Paul
Tel: +44-20-7176-6273
sheryl_paul@platts.com