Europe Electricity Interconnection Data Tool Sources and methodology documentation

This document provides the sources and methodology for Ember's Europe Electricity Interconnection Data Tool. It details how the tool maps Bidding Zones to countries, calculates interconnection capacity (NTC), estimates import potential, and analyzes electricity flows and variable renewable energy (RES) penetration for 2024 and projected scenarios for 2030 and 2040.

• The data tool uses a specific mapping convention to translate Bidding Zones (BZs) into countries to represent cross-border transmission lines. To simplify the visualization of offshore wind connections, the tool groups certain BZs into three notional countries: the 'Baltic Hub' (BW), 'Celtic Hub' (CW), and 'North Hub' (NW).
• Interconnection capacity is measured as Net Transfer Capacity (NTC) in MW. For the 2024 baseline, NTC is derived from ENTSO-E's Winter and Summer Outlook Reports and benchmarked against historical hourly flow timeseries from the ENTSO-E Transparency Platform. The tool notes that this NTC convention is a 'conservative representation' because some regions, such as the Core and Nordics CCRs, use Flow-Based Market Coupling (FBMC) which can allow for higher exchange levels.
• For 2030 and 2040 projections, the tool utilizes different capacity categories: 'Reference' (based on TYNDP 2024 Scenarios), 'Projects' (adding PCI candidates and BOGI/TEASIMED projects), and 'Needs' (based on economically viable gaps). The TYNDP 2024 System Needs study estimates additional capacity requirements of 88 GW for 2030 and 108 GW for 2040 on top of the Reference Grid.
• Import potential is calculated as a percentage of a country's peak demand that could be satisfied if all entering interconnectors operated at full capacity simultaneously. Peak demand for 2024 is sourced from ENTSO-E's Transparency Platform, while 2030/2040 peak demand is derived from the 'National Trends+' (NT+) scenario of the TYNDP 2024 Scenarios model.
• The 'Flows view' analyzes three primary metrics: Net Position (NET-P), Variable RES penetration, and Cross-border flows. Variable RES penetration specifically includes generation from PV solar, thermal solar (CSP), onshore wind, and offshore wind, but excludes behind-the-meter contributions like rooftop PV.

APA

Geneletti, G., & Heberer, L. (2025). Europe Electricity Interconnection Data Tool Sources and methodology documentation. Ember. https://files.ember-energy.org/public-downloads/europe_interconnection_data_tool/Ember%20Europe%20Electricity%20Interconnection%20Data%20Tool%20-%20Methodology.pdf

Chicago

Geneletti, Gianluca, and Leo Heberer. Europe Electricity Interconnection Data Tool Sources and methodology documentation. Ember, 2025. https://files.ember-energy.org/public-downloads/europe_interconnection_data_tool/Ember%20Europe%20Electricity%20Interconnection%20Data%20Tool%20-%20Methodology.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Geneletti |first1=Gianluca |last2=Heberer |first2=Leo |title=Europe Electricity Interconnection Data Tool Sources and methodology documentation |publisher=Ember |date=3 July 2025 |url=https://files.ember-energy.org/public-downloads/europe_interconnection_data_tool/Ember%20Europe%20Electricity%20Interconnection%20Data%20Tool%20-%20Methodology.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{geneletti2025europe, author = {Geneletti, Gianluca and Heberer, Leo}, title = {{Europe Electricity Interconnection Data Tool Sources and methodology documentation}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://files.ember-energy.org/public-downloads/europe_interconnection_data_tool/Ember%20Europe%20Electricity%20Interconnection%20Data%20Tool%20-%20Methodology.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }