ENTSO‑E – Europe’s Core Electricity Network

When working with ENTSO‑E, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity that coordinates the continent’s high‑voltage power system. Also known as the European grid coordinator, it helps keep lights on across borders and supports the shift to cleaner power.

The electricity grid, the interconnected network of transmission lines and substations that moves electricity from generators to consumers is the backbone ENTSO‑E manages. This grid requires reliable transmission system operators, companies that own and run high‑voltage lines in each country to handle cross‑border flows. Together they enable the EU’s energy market to function smoothly.

Key players and trends shaping the network

Renewable energy, wind, solar and other low‑carbon sources that are increasingly feeding into the grid drives new challenges for ENTSO‑E. Because wind and solar are variable, the grid must balance supply and demand in real time. ENTSO‑E’s coordination of the balancing market, the mechanism that matches generation with consumption across Europe is a direct response to that need.

EU energy policy, legislation aimed at decarbonising power, enhancing security of supply and promoting market integration shapes the rules ENTSO‑E follows. Recent directives on cross‑border capacity and on integrating offshore wind farms influence how transmission operators plan new lines. In turn, ENTSO‑E publishes ten‑year network development plans that outline where new infrastructure is required.

All these pieces fit together: ENTSO‑E oversees the electricity grid, which relies on transmission system operators to manage capacity; the rise of renewable energy pushes the balancing market to evolve; and EU energy policy sets the framework for all of it. Readers will soon see how each of these elements appears in the articles below, from detailed analyses of market reforms to case studies of cross‑border projects. Let’s dive into the collection and see the latest insights on Europe’s power network.