The European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and European Distribution System Operators (E.DSO) signed today a partnership agreement that will bring forward the work on smart grids in Europe.

The Agreement aims at facilitating the collaboration between CEN and CENELEC, two of the officially recognised European Standardization Organizations, and E.DSO, the interface between Europe’s Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and the European institutions. The objective is to ensure an appropriate exchange of knowledge as well as high quality and consensus-based support in the delivery of standards for the large-scale development of smart grid technologies.

In the framework of the ambitious Green Deal developed by the European Commission, standards have an important role to play to implement a sustainable and smart use of resources and to foster the energy transition. The new Partnership Agreement is a step forward in this direction: through the Agreement, E.DSO will provide CEN and CENELEC with their technical and strategic expertise in the field of smart grids and energy distribution, and bring a welcome industrial perspective to the work of standardization.

Furthermore, the exchanges between the three organizations will bring lasting benefits to other related areas of ongoing work, such as ICT, cybersecurity, digitalization of the energy sector and e-Vehicles. The new partnership builds on existing co-operation between the three organizations: E.DSO has been active in the CEN-CLC-ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) Smart Energy Grid Coordination Group and Steering Group as ‘Representatives of European associations representing interested stakeholders’.

Speaking on this occasion, Roberto Zangrandi, Secretary General of E.DSO, said: ”DSOs remain the fundamental enablers of all forms of flexibility and the evolving need of efficient, reactive, intelligent grids, and participative customers. Therefore, cooperation with both CEN and CENELEC provides a platform to share knowledge and break information silos for a clean and bright future.”

Elena Santiago Cid, Director General of CEN and CENELEC, added: “We look forward to our continued cooperation with E.DSO. Our shared interest consists of contributing to a safe, sustainable and efficient energy transition in Europe, and is in line with the CEN and CENELEC’s objective to work together with all stakeholders to develop standards that create trust and enable the Internal Energy Market to the benefit of European businesses and citizens alike.”

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CEN and CENELEC

CEN (European Committee for Standardization) and CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) are recognized by the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as European Standardization Organizations responsible for developing standards at European level.

The members of CEN and CENELEC are the National Standardization Bodies and National Electrotechnical Committees of 34 European countries. European Standards (ENs) and other standardization deliverables adopted by CEN and CENELEC, are accepted and recognized in all of these countries. European Standards (ENs) contribute to enhancing safety, improving quality, facilitating cross-border trade and strengthening the European Single Market. CEN and CENELEC work to promote the international alignment of standards in the framework of technical cooperation agreements with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).

CEN website: www.cen.eu

CENELEC website: www.cenelec.eu

CEN-CENELEC website: http://www.cencenelec.eu

Media contact:

Giovanni Collot

Project Manager Strategy & Governance

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre

T: +32 474 98 21 17
Email: gcollot@cencenelec.eu
Twitter: @Standards4EU

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E.DSO - European Distribution System Operators

European Distribution System Operators (E.DSO) is the key-interface between Europe’s DSOs and the European institutions, and promotes the development and large-scale testing of smart grid technologies in real-life situations, new market designs and regulation. E.DSO gathers 44 leading electricity distribution system operators (DSOs) in 25 countries, including 3 national associations, cooperating to ensure the reliability of Europe’s electricity supply for consumers and enabling their active participation in our energy system. How? By shaping smarter grids for your future.

Website: www.edsoforsmartgrids.eu/

Contact:

Juan Marco

Principal

T: +32 2 737 13 40

Email: juan.marco@edsoforsmartgrids.eu

Twitter: @edso_eu