A smart grid is an electricity network that can integrate in a cost-efficient manner the behaviour and actions of all users connected to it (generators and/or consumers) in order to ensure economically efficient, sustainable power system with high levels of quality and security of supply and safety. Smart grids allow companies and households to produce electricity (for example – using photovoltaic panels or wind turbines) and sell it on to other consumers through existing networks.
In 2010, CEN, CENELEC and ETSI set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) on standards for smart grids, which prepared and published a report on the European Smart Grids standardization.
In March 2011, the European Commission and EFTA issued the Smart Grid Mandate M/490 which was accepted by the three European Standards Organisations (ESOs), CEN, CENELEC and ETSI in June 2011. M/490 requests CEN, CENELEC and ETSI to develop a framework to enable ESOs to perform continous standard enhancement and development in the Smart Grid field.
In order to perform the requested work, the ESOs conbined their strategic approach and established in July 2011, together with the relevant stakegolders, the CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Smart Grid Coordination Group (SG-CG), being responsible for coordinating the ESOs reply to M/490 (successor of the JWG on standards for smart grids).
In 2012, the SG-CG worked intensively to produce the following reports (approved by the CEN and CENELEC Technical Boards in December 2012 and by ETSI Board in January 2013):
In addition, SG-CG produced a Framework Document which provides an overview of the activities. It describes how the different elements mentioned above fit together as to provide the consistent framework for Smart Grids, as requested by M/490.
Additional information on the Smart Grids mandate and on the Smart Grids standardization activities :
CEN website
CENELEC website