Space Weather Exercise for TSOs in Europe

Date & Format

📍 Venue: European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), Darmstadt
📅 Dates: 1–2 December 2026
👥 Audience: European Transmission System Operators (TSOs), relevant operational and institutional stakeholders, Space Weather experts, and invited representatives from the ESA Space Weather network

About the Exercise

We are pleased to invite European Transmission System Operators and relevant stakeholders to the Space Weather Exercise for TSOs, a two-day in-person desktop exercise aimed at strengthening awareness, preparedness and coordination around the potential impacts of extreme Space Weather on the European electricity transmission network.

The exercise will bring together the TSO/end-user community with Space Weather experts to explore how operational organisations currently use Space Weather information, how they may respond during an extreme event, and what future services, procedures and coordination mechanisms may be needed.

The event will use a realistic exercise scenario based on real and simulated Space Weather data, including sample summary bulletins and worked examples from the ESA Space Weather Portal. Participants will be invited to discuss their procedures, decision-making processes and escalation pathways in response to the information provided.

Focus & Objectives

The exercise aims to bring together European Transmission System Operators, Space Weather experts, and relevant operational stakeholders to strengthen shared awareness of the potential impacts of Space Weather on the connected European electricity transmission network. It will provide a dedicated forum for dialogue on how Space Weather information is currently used, what future operational needs may exist, and how emerging Space Weather capabilities and services could better support the electricity transmission community.

Through a realistic exercise scenario based on real and simulated Space Weather data, participants will be invited to discuss their procedures, decision-making processes, escalation practices, communication channels, and decision triggers in response to an extreme Space Weather event. The exercise will also support the validation of a user-community-endorsed baseline set of end-user needs for electricity transmission system operators.

The workshop will further consider coordination between operators, authorities, and Space Weather service providers, including possible cross-sector dependencies such as links with satellite timing systems and impacts on grid stability. In doing so, the exercise will help identify opportunities for future coordination, preparedness, and development activities at both operational and European levels.

Organisation

This exercise is organised by the European Space Agency (ESA), with the involvement of ENTSO-E, ESA Space Weather Service Network representatives, and invited experts from the wider European Space Weather community.

Practical Information

In-person format
Registration deadline: TBD