On 13 April 2011, RGI members met EU Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger in Brussels. Commissioner Oettinger invited RGI to support the Commission in developing a regulatory framework and consultation guideline to address the issues related to public acceptance of power grids for renewable energies. RGI's input on the discussion about centralised and decentralised generation and storage should also be considered.

The key for strengthening the common interest of stakeholders is to create transparency and share knowledge. Acceptance of grid expansion will require the public to understand why more grids are needed in a power system with a large share of renewable energies. Implementation of grid expansion requires a constructive dialogue of TSOs and civil society on issues such as environmental and health aspects, as well as technical and financial implications and options of grid expansion that will support the alignment of common interest. RGI is in a unique position to bring these stakeholders together and develop common perspectives. This will form the base for a common narrative and a communication strategy to reach interested stakeholders and the general public.

The regulatory framework needs to be enhanced to overcome barriers to grid expansion. Based on the common perspectives developed in stakeholder discussions, RGI will advocate regulatory improvements and suggest innovative solutions for benefit sharing and compensation. The supersmart grid concept will be used to address diverging options of centralised and decentralised generation. RGI‘s activities in this field will focus on public consultations in the planning and permitting process and options of benefit sharing, and will also include aspects of macro planning and grid expansion incentivisation.

Find the background paper on the side.