Project team at the 1st workshop in Hamburg:

The BESTGRID consortium consisted of nine partners: two NGOs, five TSOs, one international research institute and the Renewables Grid Initiatve (RGI). 

50Hertz

50Hertz is responsible for the operation, maintenance, planning, and expansion of the 380/220 kilovolt transmission grid throughout the German Federal States of Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Hamburg. The transmission system operated by 50Hertz covers 109 000 square kilometres and has a length of around 9 700 kilometres. It ensures the net integration of around 41 percent of all installed wind energy plants in Germany and provides the backbone for the safe and secure power supply to some 19 million people.


BirdLife

BirdLife Europe is a Partnership of nature conservation organisations in 49 countries, including all EU Member States, and a leader in bird conservation. Through its unique local to global approach BirdLife Europe delivers high impact and long term conservation for the benefit of nature and people. Read more about BirdLife and its role in BESTGRID here


Elia

Elia is the transmission system operator in Belgium, one of the most interconnected countries in Europe. It operates grids from 380 kV to 30 kV.  It also has a 60% share in the German TSO 50Hertz. 


Germanwatch

Germanwatch is a Germany-based NGO working on issues concerning global equity and the preservation of livelihoods, such as the prevention of climate change. Read more about Germanwatch and its role in BESTGRID here



IIASA

The International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA) is an independent scientific institute that conducts research on critical issues of environmental, economic, technological, and social change, on global levels, using findings to provide valuable options for policy makers. 


National Grid

National Grid is an international electricity and gas company and one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. It is operating grids in the UK and the USA.



Renewables-Grid-Initiative

TSOs and NGOs join forces in the Renewables-Grid-Initiative (RGI) to support an environmentally sensitive, socially acceptable build-up of a sufficient grid infrastructure in Europe for both decentralised and large-scale renewable energy sources. 


TenneT

TenneT is Europe's first cross-border Transmission System Operator administering transmission grids in Germany and the Netherlands. 



Terna Rete Italia

The Terna Group is the owner of the Italian national high and very high voltage electricity transmission grid, with over 63,500 km of HV lines throughout the Italian territory.