Development of UCTE and reconnection of 1 st and 2nd Pan-European synchronous zones

Size and features of European electric power systems, like any other in the world, is subject to changes. The reason is of technical nature - increased work safety, as well as economic - the possibility of electricity trading i.e. increased production optimization. The consumption of electricity is increased every year by 1% to, in some cases, even 4%, which additionally makes the issue of meeting electricity needs more complex. The processes of expanding and connecting electric power systems are very complex and depend on the political, technical and economic environment. Until 1991 UCPTE (from the year 2000 UCTE) had operated in a synchronous manner in accordance with the political environment of that period. Consequent to changes caused by democratic process of the former USSR break-up and the war in the region of former Yugoslavia, two UCTE synchronous zones were created. In the early 2000 preconditions for connecting the aforementioned areas in one common electric power system were created. The UCTE Steering Committee decided in its Brussels meeting in early 2002 to set up an Executive Team with the main goal of organizing and implementing the above mentioned project. The following, as main leaders, were assigned: the Croatian representative, today HEP-TSO and the representative from the Czech Republic, CEPS-TSO. The reconnection was carried out on October 10, 2004 along with a huge number of preparatory and expert as well as scientific papers and challenges in the total period of five years. The reconnection results are extremely positive and affirmative.