Recording of Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 41:00 .

Experts Discuss Blackout Causes in Spain and Portugal Amid Renewable Energy Challenges and AI Advancements

The discussion revolves around a blackout in Spain and Portugal, with debates on its causes pointing to renewables, grid operators, or government policies while sparing independent regulators. The incident underscores the urgent need for substantial investments in grid infrastructure to accommodate increasing renewable energy integration. Experts are working on strategic roadmaps addressing these challenges. Outdated protection schemes and insufficient interconnections contribute significantly to such disruptions. Modernizing substations through virtualization projects like those from Linux Foundation Energy Project is crucial. Transitioning overhead lines underground poses technical hurdles but promises benefits for future grids amid rising electric vehicle (EV) use which could stabilize power networks as nodes. Skill gaps impede progress towards sustainable solutions globally—a concern shared by countries including Azerbaijan—necessitating education and training enhancements across sectors. AI's role in transforming skills into broader competencies within Europe's energy sector is highlighted alongside initiatives tackling skill shortages yet struggling to attract young graduates due to safety concerns compared with industries like tourism and competitive international salaries drawing talent away post-graduation from places like Portugal. To address this, improving sector attractiveness via higher wages and technology adoption appealing to younger generations is suggested along with reskilling current employees amidst AI-driven technological shifts. Flexible demand management systems for DSOs require transparency and data quality critical for effective congestion management. International examples such as Australia's negative demand experience emphasize global parallels in renewable integration issues necessitating collaboration among politicians, market players, fostering tailored sustainable solutions regionally while advancing green transitions worldwide.

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Talk of session: Developing the Future Distribution Grid

The global energy landscape is changing rapidly as demand for electricity increases and distributed generation becomes more widespread. In their efforts to modernize and expand an already aging power grid, utilities and grid operators face significant obstacles and challenges in maintaining system stability and resilience. In addition, shortages of skilled labor and materials are slowing infrastructure development. Addressing these issues requires technological innovation, policy reforms, and collaboration across the energy industry. The session will explore how to create a power system that is not only reliable and secure but also flexible enough to adapt the changing energy landscape.

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome and Introduction

Speaker

Carmen Gimeno
Secretary General
GEODE
Belgium

Recording of presentation not authorized for publication.

The Energy Transition - Challenges for Grid Operators

Speaker

Luís Vale Cunha
Chairman
ETIP SNET
Portugal

To Talk

Bringing Flexibility to the System - Local Flexibility Markets

Speaker

Rune Hogga
Head of Flexibility
A Energi
Norway

To Talk

Challenges and Strategies in Grid Development

Speaker

Harri Salomäki
Head of Asset Management and Partnerships
Elenia
Finland

To Talk

Grid Management Optimization - New Technology Solutions

Speaker

Mark Nigge-Uricher
Senior Business Developer
Alliander N.V.
The Netherlands

To Talk

Unlocking Flexibility - Bridging the Gap Between Flexibility Demand and Supply for Grid Stability

Speaker

Maddalena Pondini
Sustainability Advisory Expert
Siemens AG
Germany

Recording of presentation not authorized for publication.

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