Booklet of Best Practices on Regional Power System Interconnectivity
Countries worldwide face mounting challenges in ensuring reliable, affordable and clean electricity supply while meeting growing demand and ambitious climate targets. Regional power system interconnection has emerged as a critical solution, enabling countries to share resources, enhance energy security and accelerate the clean energy transition through cross-border co-operation.
This booklet draws on extensive research and existing studies to provide policy makers and decision makers with a high-level strategic framework. The outline, selected case studies and structure were refined through virtual consultation sessions with technical experts, African stakeholders and Group of Twenty (G20) member country delegates. It highlights priority areas for action and outlines practical steps to advance integration through strategic investment in infrastructure, co-ordinated power system operations and more effective power exchange. Rather than repeating existing detailed technical analyses, it focuses on the critical decisions and interventions that shape success.
While this guide addresses both interconnection (physical infrastructure) and integration (power system operation, market and regional), its primary focus is on integration. This is structured around five core dimensions: political will, institutional frameworks and governance, harmonisation of technical and operational standards, cross-border electricity market development, and co-ordinated regional planning and investment. Physical interconnection is often the first step, but achieving true integration requires the deeper institutional frameworks and governance structures outlined in these five core dimensions.