Considering flexibility in network expansion planning: present practices and regulatory conditions

There are strong regulatory signals prompting European system operators to consider flexible resources as an active subject in the grid expansion planning. The present paper is based on the first results from H2020 project FlexPlan, namely a European regulatory analysis. The study combines results of literature screening and survey of the existing practices drawing a picture of the present pan-European regulation and political targets to ensure that the subsequent project activities are correctly oriented. The study is structured around several key issues: flexible resources, including consideration of these in planning, ownership of energy storage, cost-benefit analysis, including rules for allocation of costs; Interaction between TSOs and DSOs. The paper concludes that despite strong efforts from ENTSO-E to develop common methodologic principles, there are still several missing elements in the puzzle. This strengthens the importance and proper timing of FlexPlan project, both for testing novel grid planning methodologies coping with the present challenges and providing sound results considering different timeframes.