France: IEA Advisory Board Meets In Paris To Address Electricity Security Challenges

More than 70 senior experts gathered in Paris for a meeting of the International Energy Agency’s Electricity Security Advisory Board (ESAB) to examine how grids, storage and investment can strengthen electricity security.

The meeting brought together representatives from industry, utilities, governments, regulators, academia and think tanks to discuss ways to maintain reliable and affordable electricity supplies as demand grows and power systems face mounting pressures.

Discussions took place amid growing concerns over system stability, the adequacy of power supplies and physical threats to electricity networks.

Shinichi Kihara, the IEA’s director for energy markets and security, delivered the opening remarks, outlining the agency’s recent and forthcoming work on electricity security and electrification.

Hosted by the IEA’s Electricity Systems and Markets Division, the meeting focused on four areas: grid infrastructure, storage, resource adequacy and affordability.

Participants examined ways to make better use of existing grids while preparing networks for growing and changing demand.

Discussions covered how network capacity is calculated under existing operational grid codes, ways to improve system operators’ visibility of network conditions, flexible connection arrangements and advance planning amid uncertainty over demand and supply trends.

Participants also explored how storage can support power systems, from long-term planning to real-time balancing. They considered approaches open to different technologies, opportunities to combine multiple revenue streams and the market signals needed to support efficient investment and operation.

The meeting also addressed how to secure timely investment to ensure adequate electricity supplies while managing rising system costs. Participants examined ways to hedge against market risks, evolving reliability standards and mechanisms to ensure sufficient supply, as well as the distinction between capacity and flexibility needs.

On affordability, discussions covered fair cost allocation, protection for vulnerable households, clear retail tariffs and ways to recover investment costs while supporting electricity security and affordability.

The ESAB complements the IEA Electricity Security Task Force, established in 2024, by bringing together a broader range of stakeholders to inform the agency’s work.

Insights from the meeting will inform the IEA’s forthcoming Electricity 2027 report, the work of its Ministerial Advisory Panel on Electricity Affordability, and further analysis of electricity grids and security.