Manuel Sánchéz Jimenéz
Policy Officer Smart Grid, European Commission
Smart grids can substantially increase energy efficiency, improve integration of renewables and electric vehicles into the grid, empower the consumer and boost the overall competitiveness of European business. Since 2004 the European Commission has played an important role in its definition and progress by developing a pro-active approach to smart grids and continuing its leadership towards a low-carbon economy. It includes a set of actions for the developing of new technical standards, ensuring data protection for consumers, establishing a regulatory framework to provide incentives for Smart Grid deployment and providing continued support to innovation for technology and additional new large-scale demonstration initiatives.
Biography : Dr.-Ing Manuel Sánchéz Jimenéz joined the Commission in 1996 as a Project Officer within the Renewable Energies Unit in Directorate General for Research. During twelve years he coordinated the areas of "Integration of Renewable Energies" and "Smart Energy Networks" and launched the European Technology Platform "SmartGrids" in 2006. He has contributed to set up a new sector for "Information and Communication Technologies solutions for Energy Efficiency" in 2007 at the Directorate General for the Information Society and Media. Since 2009 he is Policy Officer for Smart Grids at the Directorate General for Energy. He launched the European Task Force for Smart Grids in November 2009 and chairs the European Reference Group for standardisation of Smart Grids.