The first laureates Dr Chavdar Ivanov and the company Sunchain, respectively nominated by ENTSO-E and EDSO, have been rewarded for their contribution to building Europe’s future power network. The handover took place during the second day of INNOGRID2020+.

At ENTSO-E, Dr Chavdar Ivanov, now employed by German TSO TenneT, led the development of Common Grid Model Exchange Specifications (CGMES). These specifications are, since their adoption by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in 2017, the world’s standards for electricity data exchange. They are instrumental in the implementation of the European Network Codes and notably the Common Grid Model – the first programme for continuous and secure pan-European electricity data exchange.

Laurent Schmitt, ENTSO-E Secretary General, commented, ‘The Common Grid Model is a fantastic springboard for innovation. It enables the creation of a single app platform for all European grid operators. We are now building the IT architecture, the connectivity layers and the first apps. The Common Grid Model is based on the SmartGrid Architecture Model. So, in the future it could very well be exploited in cooperation and agreement with the DSOs. All this would not have been possible without Chavdar. I look forward to continuing rewarding great innovators like him through this Power Network Europe Award’.

EDSO nominated the start-up Sunchain for the Award. A spin-off company from Tescol, a French solar engineering firm with more than 35 years’ experience, Sunchain is a pioneer in applying innovative blockchain technology to enable off-site consumption of solar energy. This includes off-site self-consumption, collective self-consumption and power exchanges between buildings.

Pierre Mallet, Director at Enedis, France on behalf of EDSO, said, ‘In an increasingly decentralised system with a high penetration of renewables, including solar PV, it is essential to optimise the use of the produced energy. And customers show growing expectations for solutions allowing the development of collaborative economy in the field of energy. This entails a great need for reliable, validated and secure data on production, consumption and energy exchanges. Novel technologies such as the blockchain can help to address some of these challenges. Therefore, we need start-ups to investigate new solutions and Sunchain perfectly represents this ambition’.

Following the award ceremony and concluding the second day of Innogrid2020+, Laurent Schmitt and EDSO’s Secretary General, Roberto Zangrandi, presented to the European Commission 10 innovation actions to deliver the Energy Union.