EirGrid

European Integration

Integrating the national energy markets will give electricity users a better service and more secure supply, while increasing competition. EU legislation and new rules for operating the electricity system make this possible.

European Energy Policy Targets

As we look towards a climate neutral economy, more work is needed to achieve the EU 2030 climate & energy targets. These targets include:

  • At least a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels
  • At least 32% share for renewable energy
  • An energy efficiency increase of at least 32.5%

To meet these targets, we are increasing the amount of renewable energy on the network and planning for further interconnection.

European Legislation

The Third Energy Package facilitated the development of a harmonised European internal energy market. It includes two directives and three regulations, which became law on 3 March 2011.

Network Codes

The Third Energy Package of European legislation created a need for European Network Codes to cover grid connections, markets and system operation. These codes are designed to provide a sustainable, secure and competitive electricity market across Europe.

Grid Connection

The transmission system operator manages the electricity transmission grid. Producers (who generate electricity) and major customers (who use electricity themselves or sell it on to small customers) are connected to this grid. They must follow certain rules to be able to use it. 

The requirements that users must meet to connect to the transmission grid are set out in three different connection codes. Each of these focuses on a particular type of grid user. The codes are:

Market Codes

The market codes play a crucial role in achieving Europe’s goal of an integrated single electricity market. They lay down rules to allow energy and available capacity to be traded between Europe’s national transmission systems.

The market codes are structured around the different time scales in which these trades can take place: long-term, day-ahead and intraday. They aim to foster competition, encourage the diversification of generation sources and facilitate the optimisation of the existing infrastructure. 

The codes are below:

System Operation

To keep the electricity system reliable and stable, every transmission system operator draws up plans and schedules to prepare for real time system operation. This involves analysing whether enough electricity will be generated to meet demand and whether the system can safely handle the resulting flows.  

With increasing interconnection between transmission system operators, the operations codes provide rules and regulations governing how these systems are operated.  

The operations codes cover:

Clean Energy Package

The CEP consists of eight legislative acts, which aims to decarbonise energy and facilitate better outcomes for consumers. It came into force during 2018/19 and covers:

  • Energy performance in buildings
  • Renewable energy
  • Energy efficiency
  • Governance of the energy union
  • Electricity market design

Below are the eight legislative acts:

European Associations

We are a member and play an active role in the following European associations: 

ENTSO-E - ENTSO-E represents 41 electricity transmission system operators from 34 countries across Europe. It promotes closer cooperation across Europe’s TSOs to achieve our energy & climate policy objectives. 

EUROPEX - A not-for-profit association of European energy exchanges. EUROPE represents the exchange-based wholesale markets for electricity, gas, and environmental markets.  

CORESO - Managing European electricity system requires effective regional coordination. CORESO is one of these regional initiatives.

Publications

As required by the European Network Codes and Guidelines, a number of additional documents are to be published either by ENTSO-E, TSOs or national regulatory authorities. Below are the documents and associated decision letters.