The European Commission has approved romania's first cross-border smart grid project, developed in partnership by Delgaz Grid SA, the electricity and natural gas distribution company, part of the E.ON group, CNTEE Transelectrica SA, the national transmission system operator, and MAVIR, the Hungarian transmission operator, transelectrica reports.

The Carpathian Modernized Energy Network (CARMEN) project has been included in the 5th list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI), adopted at the end of last week by the European Commission, and has a value of approximately EUR 150 million.

"The CARMEN project has a value of approximately 150 million euros, and its implementation will be carried out over a period of 6 years, starting with 2023, and will be proposed for financing under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program. Following its adoption by the Commission, the Delegated Act containing the draft 5th CIP List will be submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council. Both legislators have two months to accept or reject the list – a process that can be extended by a further two months if necessary. Based on the applicable legal provisions, the legislators do not have the possibility to modify the draft list," reads the Transelectrica communique sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.

Projects of Common Interest are key cross-border energy infrastructure projects for the construction of a more integrated and resilient EU internal energy market and for the pursuit of energy and climate objectives.

The 5th CIP list includes 98 projects: 67 in the field of electricity transmission and storage, 20 in the field of natural gas, 6 CO2 network projects and 5 smart electricity distribution grid projects. Also, the list of 5th PCI includes another 4 projects of common interest developed by CNTEE Transelectrica SA, part of the Romania – Serbia Cluster "Mid Continental East Corridor", including: the Interconnection Line between Resita (RO) and Pancevo (RS), the Internal Line between the Iron Gates and Resita, the Internal Line between Resita and Timisoara/Sacalaz, as well as the Internal Line between Arad and Timi?oara/Sacalaz.

According to Transelectrica, through the CARMEN project, the partners aim to modernize and develop the electricity transmission and distribution networks, as well as to increase their interoperability, both at national and European level, in order to achieve the objectives of common interest. Thus, it is estimated the modernization of 23 transformer substations, 65 transformer stations, high voltage overhead lines and the implementation of specific IT and communication technologies, the installation in the electrical transmission network of modern means of voltage control at the level of the energy system.

"CARMEN will directly contribute to the increase of the capacity of takeover in the low voltage network of the electricity produced from renewable sources by the prosumers, the project representing an extremely important step towards accelerating the greenification and digitization of the electricity transmission and distribution network managed by the three partners," it said.