The 2017 National Energy Strategy (NES) identified the actions to be implemented by 2030 in Italy, in line with the scenario established in the European Union2050 Energy Roadmap, with the goal of reducing CO₂emissions by at least 80 percent compared to 1990 levels. The decarbonisation process is driving change in the energy system, and in particular the grids, through the continued increase in renewable generation, energy efficiency, technological innovation and storage systems. All these important elements will increasingly impact the management of this new paradigm. The massive integration of non-programmable renewable energy sources into the grid, while still maintaining adequate safety standards for the entire system from a market perspective, is also a crucial challenge for Italy and can only be addressed by drafting transmission grid development plans that are state-of-the-art, well-structured and duly agreed upon.

To support grid planning in line with the new requirements, the Project analysed both technological and social aspects, in continuity with the studies carried out in the 2015-2017 Three-year Period.

As regards technological aspects, in the Three-year Period, advanced optimisation tools and methods were developed for the transmission grid that are new, effective technological solutions and storage systems and can ensure effective interconnections with other countries. Outstanding among the tools developed is ACRE++, atool that performs coupled active-reactiveOptimal Power Flow calculation on a composite generation and transmission system over a variable time horizon (from one hour up to one year). In these simulations, predictive reactive loads at grid nodes is very important, and in 2018 a methodology for estimating reactive load profiling from generally available active power data was developed and validated against historical data. Two applications to NES 2030 scenarios made it possible to identify where and how much reactive power offsets are needed to comply with the nodal voltage limits of the Italian grid and preliminarily assess the impact on the Italian electricity system of a potential significant reduction in hydroelectric generation due to the aging of the plants.

Regarding social aspects, in 2018 the 2017 NES energy policy was analysed, specifically analysing the most relevant aspects for combating energy poverty and promoting energy justice. This approach was applied to examine compensation mechanisms which must be activated in cases where the harm from the construction of electricity infrastructure cannot be eliminated. From an ethical point of view, it was pointed out that the determination of compensation measures should start from the estimation of lost capacity rather than from the maximisation of aggregate utility.