ENARD’s vision is to facilitate the uptake of new operating procedures, architectures, methodologies and technologies in electricity transmission and distribution (T&D) networks, such as to enhance their overall performance in relation to the developing challenges of network renewal, renewables integration and network resilience.

Mission: ENARD’s mission is to provide a major international forum for information exchange, in-depth research and analysis and collaborative research and development (R&D) in relation to electricity T&D networks.

Objectives:

• collation and exchange of information and data on electricity transmission and distribution developments within the participating countries
• in-depth review and analysis of the key research and development (R&D), design, operational and management issues related to electricity transmission networks
• complementary in-depth review and analysis of a range of key issues relating to the R&D, design, operation and management of electricity distribution networks
• in-depth review and analysis of prevalent and anticipated regulatory frameworks and their associated impact on the economic evaluation and optimisation of network asset portfolios

A number of IEA Member countries have joined the ENARD Implementing Agreement and several others are in the process. As with other IEA Implementing Agreements, ENARD is open to participation by non-IEA member countries and to private sector and non-Governmental organisations.

Annexes: ENARD is organised as a multiple-Annex Implementing Agreement.  Each Annex has its own defined work programme and Operating Agent.  Annex I, Information Collation and Dissemination, serves as the essential definition platform, for the development of future (R&D) Annexes.

Annex 3. Infrastructure Asset Management
This annex aims to address the challenges associated with the management of increasingly ageing transmission and distribution (T&D) asset bases within the participating countries and beyond. It will do this via the exchange of information and data in relation to the ageing degradation, failure and end-of-life characteristics of the T&D asset base and complementary development of new asset management techniques and methodologies.

Annex 1. Information Collation and Dissemination
This annex provides systematic collation and dissemination of transmission and distribution network related information and the organisation and delivery of a series of topical experts’ workshops, which are a key enabling mechanism in the identification of priority areas for potential new annexes.

Annex 2. Distributed Generation System Integration in Distribution Networks
This annex aims to build up and exchange knowledge on distributed generation system integration aspects and existing active approaches in distribution networks; develop guidelines for network operators and political decision-makers on how to implement and manage the transition from a passive to an active distribution network; promote implementation possibilities for active distribution networks.

Annex 4 (proposed). Transmission Systems
The proposed annex aims to establish a long term vision for developments in transmission systems to serve as an essential information exchange forum and service to ENARD’s 3 Rs of power system development: renewal, renewables integration and network resilience. It will address the main barriers towards development of transmission capacity and identify the most important challenges in terms of expansion planning and market analysis, secure operation and the need for new transmission technology.