The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Incorporated
IEEE
IEEE is a charitable organisation dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.
ID: 79856747620-58
Lobbying Activity
Response to EU Ports Strategy
28 Jul 2025
IEEE welcomes the opportunity to respond to this Call for Evidence. - Introduction Ships dedicated to maritime transport - alongside the ports that service them are being faced with significant regulatory challenges and decarbonization goals. The FuelEU Maritime and Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations are among the key frameworks driving this shift, with electrification emerging as the most readily available solution. Yet, meeting higher power demand at berth necessitates substantial grid upgrades - investment projects that can strengthen the European technology industrial base, boosting innovation, domestic manufacturing, know how and skills. Diverse considerations follow from this reality: - Grid Limitations and Renewable Energy Integration Ports are often located at weak points of the national power grids, i.e., locations where the grid is more susceptible to disturbances and instability. At the same time, they are also situated close to hubs of renewable energy production, including offshore and nearshore wind and photovoltaic installations. Encouraging ports to host onsite renewable energy and storage systems can help build energy resilience and autonomy, reducing dependency on external grids. - Ports as Energy Hubs and Grid Stabilizers Ports can evolve into key nodes of the future energy system. In particular, they can serve as stabilizing nodes in the network, hosting interconnections with offshore and nearshore energy infrastructure. Ports with shore-side power connection systems can also be equipped with advanced power converters that not only match the frequency between ships and the shore grid, but also offer grid-forming capabilities. These installations can manage and stabilize grid voltage and frequency, compensating for perturbation due to high switching loads from ships or intermittent renewables energy sources. - Ship-to-Shore Energy Flows Vessels fitted with onboard green technology could reverse the typical power flow and become active contributors to the port grid. Instead of drawing power while at berth, such vessels could, via properly configured shore connection interfaces, inject surplus green energy back into the grid. This would require the retrofit of shipboard switchgear systems but would significantly enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of port operations. - Ports as Virtual Power Plants Through coordinated scheduling of ship arrivals, departures and berthing times, ports can function as virtual power plants that offer demand-side flexibility and dynamic response capabilities to the grid. Coupled with smart metering, digital logistics tools and energy data platforms (reflecting smart port principles), this approach makes maritime electrification both viable and intelligent. - Investment Considerations for Scalability The transition to smart, electrified port infrastructures requires meaningful capital investment. As smaller ports may face economic challenges, EU support mechanisms, including targeted funding and technical assistance, can help ensure that ports of varying scale benefit equitably from this transition. - Technological Roadmaps and Policy Support IEEE, through its European Public Policy Committee, has outlined a comprehensive technological roadmap for this transition, one which also includes considerations on digitalization, interoperability standards, resilient cybersecurity frameworks and multi stakeholder governance. Policy statements, such as Smart and Sustainable Ports (https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/about/european-public-policy/eppc-position-smart-sustainable-ports.pdf) and The Future of the European Grid (https://ieee-org.widen.net/s/l8mfz7gjhv/the-future-of-the-european-grid-ieee-eppc-whitepaper), provide detailed visions for how ships and ports can become integrated components of the green energy ecosystem. These frameworks are well placed to inform future EU policy and legislative options in this domain.
Read full responseResponse to EU industrial maritime strategy
28 Jul 2025
IEEE welcomes the opportunity to respond to this Call for Evidence. - Introduction Ships dedicated to maritime transport - alongside the ports that service them are being faced with significant regulatory challenges and decarbonization goals. The FuelEU Maritime and Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations are among the key frameworks driving this shift, with electrification emerging as the most readily available solution. Yet, meeting higher power demand at berth necessitates substantial grid upgrades - investment projects that can strengthen the European technology industrial base, boosting innovation, domestic manufacturing, know how and skills. Diverse considerations follow from this reality: - Grid Limitations and Renewable Energy Integration Ports are often located at weak points of the national power grids, i.e., locations where the grid is more susceptible to disturbances and instability. At the same time, they are also situated close to hubs of renewable energy production, including offshore and nearshore wind and photovoltaic installations. Encouraging ports to host onsite renewable energy and storage systems can help build energy resilience and autonomy, reducing dependency on external grids. - Ports as Energy Hubs and Grid Stabilizers Ports can evolve into key nodes of the future energy system. In particular, they can serve as stabilizing nodes in the network, hosting interconnections with offshore and nearshore energy infrastructure. Ports with shore-side power connection systems can also be equipped with advanced power converters that not only match the frequency between ships and the shore grid, but also offer grid-forming capabilities. These installations can manage and stabilize grid voltage and frequency, compensating for perturbation due to high switching loads from ships or intermittent renewables energy sources. - Ship-to-Shore Energy Flows Vessels fitted with onboard green technology could reverse the typical power flow and become active contributors to the port grid. Instead of drawing power while at berth, such vessels could, via properly configured shore connection interfaces, inject surplus green energy back into the grid. This would require the retrofit of shipboard switchgear systems but would significantly enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of port operations. - Ports as Virtual Power Plants Through coordinated scheduling of ship arrivals, departures and berthing times, ports can function as virtual power plants that offer demand-side flexibility and dynamic response capabilities to the grid. Coupled with smart metering, digital logistics tools and energy data platforms (reflecting smart port principles), this approach makes maritime electrification both viable and intelligent. - Investment Considerations for Scalability The transition to smart, electrified port infrastructures requires meaningful capital investment. As smaller ports may face economic challenges, EU support mechanisms, including targeted funding and technical assistance, can help ensure that ports of varying scale benefit equitably from this transition. - Technological Roadmaps and Policy Support IEEE, through its European Public Policy Committee, has outlined a comprehensive technological roadmap for this transition, one which also includes considerations on digitalization, interoperability standards, resilient cybersecurity frameworks and multi stakeholder governance. Policy statements, such as Smart and Sustainable Ports (https://www.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-org/ieee/web/org/about/european-public-policy/eppc-position-smart-sustainable-ports.pdf) and The Future of the European Grid (https://ieee-org.widen.net/s/l8mfz7gjhv/the-future-of-the-european-grid-ieee-eppc-whitepaper), provide detailed visions for how ships and ports can become integrated components of the green energy ecosystem. These frameworks are well placed to inform future EU policy and legislative options in this domain.
Read full responseResponse to Revision of the Standardisation Regulation
16 Jul 2025
IEEE appreciates the need for a future proof framework for standards. To achieve objectives outlined its critical that the EU standardization system evolves to be inclusive of global, open standards bodies. EUs economic growth increasingly depends on access to cutting-edge, high-quality, globally relevant standards. IEEE standards enable EU businesses, especially SMEs and startups, to integrate state-of-the-art technologies with speed & confidence, accelerating innovation cycles. By adopting or engaging with global standards bodies like IEEE, EU businesses gain earlier access to trusted technical guidance, enhancing competitiveness in global markets. Global standards developed through open, consensus processes help reduce technical fragmentation within the EU and between the EU & other regions, supporting a strong Single Market. By working with global SDOs the EU can influence global standards & ensure European valuessuch as human rights & sustainabilityare reflected in widely adopted standards, reinforcing Europes technological sovereignty. IEEEs flexible, bottom-up processes enable faster development of fit-for-purpose standards in fast-moving sectors. IEEE offers multiple pathways to achieve consensus & its collective global intelligence can be applied in national, regional or international contexts. By leveraging IEEEs expertise, the EU can shorten time-to-standard, ensuring timely support for regulations & industrial needs. IEEEs participation model allows EU stakeholders to influence standards earlyavoiding costly delays or misalignments. IEEEs globally open model lowers barriers for SMEs, startups, academia, and civil society. This inclusiveness increases diversity of perspectives & enhances legitimacy and societal alignmentkey to balanced standards. Enabling EU stakeholders to participate directly in bodies like IEEE also democratizes influence beyond large industrial players. IEEE makes standards broadly accessible in digital formats, with transparent development processes & voluntary adoption. It has subsidized programs that enable open access to its standards and IEEE standards that are part of law are freely accessible in a reading room, therefore aligned with compliance mandates. This openness empowers EU businesses & innovators, especially SMEs, to understand & implement standards cost-effectively, supporting Europes goals for wider & faster uptake of standards. By recognizing & collaborating directly with global standards bodies the EU can extend its influence beyond Europes borders. Restricting standardization mandates to ESOs limits Europes ability to influence international rules. Participation in organizations like IEEE allows EU stakeholdersincluding regulators, industry, & civil societyto shape globally relevant standards that align with European priorities. This strengthens the EUs geopolitical standing & ensures European perspectives help set worldwide technology rules. The current EU standardization systems limitations, including slow timelines, lack of technical experts, limited stakeholder diversity & occasional misalignment with market needs, risk delaying innovation & undermining Europes strategic goals. These issues cannot be resolved solely within the existing ESO-centric system. We believe the EU must open its modalities to include new actors within its standardization system. This approach will accelerate standards development to match innovation speed, improve quality & technical relevance through diverse, global expertise, expand EU influence on international standards essential for sovereignty & enhance inclusiveness and broaden participation opportunities for EU stakeholders. This approach also speaks to EU technological sovereignty, achieved not by limiting options to an EU-centric framework, but by fostering the freedom to choose from the best global standards & diverse, viable solutions that effectively meet Europes needs & accelerate its strategic goals.
Read full responseResponse to Digital Networks Act
10 Jul 2025
Through its European Public Policy Committee, IEEE welcomes the opportunity to respond to this Call for Evidence. In a recent technology policy whitepaper on communications networks in the EU (https://shorturl.at/NJROl), IEEE has focused on a number of issues that the DNA aims to tackle. First, we agree that innovation and investments support and are supported by the deployment and uptake of state-of-the-art electronic communications networks. Efforts which facilitate the unobstructed, cross-border provision of VHCNs and services are therefore of great importance. One of the key issues associated with the deployment of VHCNs is the reduction of network deployment costs. The re-utilization of the existing physical infrastructure or the use of access solutions complementary to fibre may constitute valid approaches. We believe that the modern consumer/user will increasingly utilize terrestrial and non-terrestrial wireless networks which will concomitantly emphasize coherent and effective spectrum management, as well as coordinated interventions to (cross-border) spectrum interference problems emanating from third countries. The use of wireless solutions, including second generation LEO satellite constellations may be an appealing access connectivity solution, especially in areas where other connectivity options are not available. This would also help reduce the digital divide. There would also be great value if all relevant stakeholders would be involved in the process of infrastructure planning and sharing. Network operators, service providers, utilities and public companies can all contribute to achieving the target of providing high-speed connectivity across the EU through agreements and incentivization. A potential way to foster collaboration between relevant stakeholders is through the coordination of the civil works which are necessary for the deployment of the physical media. A public repository where the involved stakeholders declare their willingness to share a portion of their infrastructure or to promote the shared construction of new physical infrastructure can help expedite the process. Through this repository, for instance, municipalities may have the opportunity to share their plans for infrastructural works, so that interested stakeholders may easily get the necessary permissions. Existing network hubs or Points of Presence (PoP) may also become candidate locations for further network expansions. As the network evolves towards a distributed architecture, these PoPs may host storage and computing infrastructure shared by multiple providers for their edge-based services. This may result in economies of scale and scope, which may then prove particularly important for the rapid and wide deployment of VHCNs. It would also be important to place more emphasis on indoor connectivity, which may include the development of harmonized configurations or network designs across the EU. Such harmonized configurations, designs or blueprints may be part of a toolbox aiming at facilitating timely, wide and cost-effective deployment of fibre networks. Common blueprints may derive from a standardization activity with the aim of providing shared schematics, thus avoiding excessive fragmentation of the relevant technical guidelines. In addition, the reduction of the number of adopted solutions may lead to the definition of validation procedures and conformity tests valid for the entire EU. Importantly, any policy proposals that facilitate wider deployment of optical networking (for example, through the promotion of Copper Switch Off) contribute to the achievement of pursued environmental goals, including network sustainability. IEEE, through its different Organizational Units, continues to stand ready as a resource for advice on policy, technological and technical issues pertaining to the sustainable, fast and reliable deployment of VHCNs, including on aspects pertaining to standardization.
Read full responseMeeting with Miguel Gonzalez-Sancho (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology)
1 Jul 2025 · Presentation of IEEE and possibilities for further collaboration with the Commission
Meeting with Olivier Bringer (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology)
20 May 2025 · Potential collaboration in support of EU digital policies
Meeting with Kilian Gross (Head of Unit Communications Networks, Content and Technology)
19 May 2025 · Exchange on development and implementation of standards, International Collaboration and Capacity Building
Response to Review of ecodesign and information requirements for external power supplies (EPS)
16 Dec 2024
Please find the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group feedback in the attached file.
Read full responseMeeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament)
17 Jan 2024 · Virtual worlds
Meeting with David Cormand (Member of the European Parliament) and The European Consumer Voice in Standardisation
17 Feb 2022 · AI
Meeting with Jean-Eric Paquet (Director-General Research and Innovation)
3 Dec 2020 · Podcast
Meeting with Thibaut Kleiner (Digital Economy)
30 Sept 2016 · e-Health developments around data