Apart from its technical benefits, STE is a sustainable technology that is able to substitute fossil fuel imports and does not need back-up by other power plants in order to meet electricity demand when it occurs.
Promoting STE technology is therefore in the common interest of the EU member states striving for energy security.
Moreover, the entire EU will profit from STE’s ability to stabilize the grid and increase energy independence. STE from the south and wind power from the north are complementary. Cooperation Mechanism would open the door for increasing the share of renewables in EU’s electricity energy mix.
Seizing the advantages of Ste for EU energy security requires strengthening the internal electricity market through new transmission lines (especially between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe, also in Italy and Greece) and an improved regulatory framework (e.g. allowing for long-term transmission rights).