The IEEE Greece Power and Energy Society Chapter invited Dr Milan Prodanovic from IMDEA Energy Institute to deliver a talk on “Challenges of Decarbonisation of Electricity Networks in Spain”, held on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the NTUA Central Library in Athens. The event was broadcast nationally and took place alongside the General Assembly of the CETPartnership project HVDC4ISLANDS.
Significant political and economic efforts are being undertaken across the European Union to mitigate the effects of climate change. In alignment with EU directives, many member states have developed national strategies and long-term studies. Among the most ambitious is Spain’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), which sets out a comprehensive roadmap for substantial reductions in CO₂ and other emissions from the energy sector.
The talk explored the key challenges and opportunities associated with the decarbonisation of electricity networks, examining both technical and market-based solutions. It began with an overview of the electricity network topology in the Iberian Peninsula and its interconnections, followed by an analysis of renewable energy resource mapping trends. The presentation concluded with insights into the current regulatory framework and anticipated market reforms in the energy and services sectors.
A central part of the discussion focused on the large-scale integration of renewable energy sources (RES) and the challenges it presents:
- How can RES variability be managed to meet demand?
- Where should the grid be reinforced?
- How can the loss of synchronous generation be compensated?
- How can service quality be maintained?
- What market mechanisms and regulatory frameworks are needed?
- How should excess generation capacity be managed?
The presentation introduced techno-economic-environmental tools to support the transformation of electricity networks in the context of decarbonisation. It also assessed the impact on network stability, critically evaluated potential technical solutions, and compared various power converter control topologies in terms of their ability to provide grid services and comply with evolving Grid Codes.
