T&D Europe’s mission is to represent the views of Europe’s grid technology providers at EU level, supporting the energy transition and drive for climate-neutrality by 2050. This is only possible with the help and support of our members. A very good reason to get to know them better!
We spoke with Marta Epifânio, responsible for the Industrial Technology Area at ANIMEE to find out more about the Portuguese Association of Companies in the Electrical and Electronic Sector and her thoughts on the role of the transmission and distribution sector in Europe.
Introduction
ANIMEE, the Portuguese Association of Companies in the Electrical and Electronic Sector, is a nationwide business association aiming to support and represent the industrial and commercial activity of companies in the wide scope of the electric and electronic sector. ANIMEE now has reached more than fifty years dedicated to serving, defending and promoting the interests of its members.
Who are your members and what is your mission?
ANIMEE is the leading association for the electric and electronic sector in Portugal, representing a diverse group of companies. About one-third of our members are large companies, mainly multinationals, while SMEs make up the remaining majority (around 99.9% of companies in Portugal are SME). In 2023, our member companies employed approximately 30,000 people, generated a turnover of €7.5 billion, and exported around €6 billion. These companies are spread across 10 subsectors, including, but not limited to, transmission and distribution equipment, systems and services that support the energy transition. You can see here our member companies.
ANIMEE’s mission is to advocate for and promote the interests of our members, focusing on key areas such as industrial technology and sustainability, economy, labor relations, and health and safety at work. Our Industrial Technology Area handles all technology and sustainability matters and serves as the link with T&D Europe.
What drove you to become a member of T&D Europe? How does T&D Europe help your company to achieve your goals and support your mission?
The increasing influence of the European Union related to technical and sustainability regulations and standards motivated us to join T&D Europe. Staying informed and actively engaging in the debates and decision-making processes in Brussels is crucial for ensuring that ANIMEE’s members remain competitive in both the European and global markets.
Being part of T&D Europe provides us with a valuable platform to share our concerns and contribute to productive discussions with policymakers. This membership strengthens our ability to represent Portuguese companies’ interests in European policy-making and supports the EU in maintaining its position as a global leader in the energy transition.
What do you see as the biggest challenge for the T&D sector in Europe today?
The biggest challenge today is to keep our industry in Europe competitive and prepared to effectively support the energy transition and decarbonisation ambition, that provides a big demand from the European market and other markets. And achieving this while being able to overcome the difficulties and challenges that industry faces, namely raw materials and components shortages, qualified human resources shortages and regulatory evolution at an increasingly fast pace. At the same time, this is a huge opportunity for the European T&D sector to demonstrate its geostrategic relevance for EU independence and way of life, leading the world in terms of technological innovation and progress to combat the growing climate changes effects.
Where do you see grid technology providers making a difference in addressing these challenges?
Having a European Association that supports the grid technology industrial players to be heard at EU level in this fast-changing context is key. In the last 3 years there was a dramatic change in the global geopolitical situation, as well as in the world competitiveness distinctive factors. Those facts made European Grid Technology Providers much more relevant to the EU action and independence. Being part of T&D Association has become even more critical to realise the huge opportunity the energy transition brings to the electric sector in Europe, by giving a representative voice near the police makers.
In an ideal world…
Europe would secure clean, reliable, and affordable energy through a robust and self-sustaining network of mainly European companies, leveraging technological innovation and collaboration to lead the global transition to sustainable energy. ANIMEE and T&D Europe are working to assure that!
For more information about ANIMEE, check out their website here.
