Technical and regulatoryharmonisation of grid codes © IRENA 2026 Unless otherwise stated, material in this publication may be freely used, shared, copied, reproduced, printed and/or stored, provided that appropriateacknowledgement is given of IRENA as the source and copyright holder. Material in this publication that is attributed to third parties may be subject toseparate terms of use and restrictions, and appropriate permissions from these third parties may need to be secured before any use of such material. ISBN: 978-92-9260-701-2 Citation:IRENA (2026),Unlocking the potential of regional interconnections: Technical and regulatory harmonisation of grid codes, InternationalRenewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi. About IRENA The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainableenergy future and serves as the principal platform for international co-operation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology,resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewableenergy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access,energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. www.irena.org About this report This document was developed under the Regulatory Energy Transition Accelerator (RETA) initiative, which aims to enhance the capacity of regulatorsto increase the speed of clean energy transitions. It is part of a series of guidance notes prepared by IRENA, the IEA and the World Bank Group’sEnergy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) to help key stakeholders navigate the challenges associated with regional power systeminterconnections by providing analytical outputs and examples of best practices for regulatory frameworks and mechanisms. These notes focus onthe soft infrastructure of cross-border power exchange, in accordance with the priority topics identified through a survey of regulators in February-March 2023. Acknowledgements This report was authored by Gayathri Nair under the guidance of Simon Benmarraze (IRENA). The report benefited from the contribution of Rebecca Bisangwa (IRENA), as well as from the reviews and comments of external experts, AndrewFlagg (Ofgem), Esra Bozkir Broekman, Camille Paillard and Floris van Dedem (IEA), Rena Kuwahata (ex-IEA), Naoki Fujiyama and Kabir Malik (WorldBank Group), Luca Lo Schiavo (ERRA); IRENA colleagues, Adrian Gonzalez, Norela Constaneiscu, Francisco Gafaro and Paul Komor; and Arina Anisie(ex-IRENA). Editing and production were managed by Francis Field with the support of Stephanie Clarke. The report was copy-edited by Steven Kennedy, withgraphic design by Strategic Agenda. Disclaimer This report does not necessarily reflect the views of IRENA, the IEA or the World Bank, or their individual members or supporters, or of any particularfunder or collaborator. The report does not constitute professional advice on any specific issue or situation. IRENA, the IEA and the World Bankmake no representation or warranty, express or implied, in respect of the report’s contents (including its completeness or accuracy) and shall not beresponsible for any use of, or reliance on, the report. The designations employed and the presentation of material herein do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the Secretariats ofIRENA, the IEA or the World Bank concerning – and are without prejudice to – the legal status of any region, country, territory, city or area or of itsauthorities, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or certain projects or products in the reportdoes not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by IRENA, the IEA or the World Bank in preference to others of a similar nature that arenot mentioned. Maps included herein are without prejudice as to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of internationalfrontiers and boundaries, or to the name of any territory, city, or area. This report, and the material herein, shall not constitute, or be construed or considered to be, a limitation upon or waiver, either express or implied,of the privileges and immunities of IRENA, the IEA or the World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved. Contents Figures 1. Introduction, purpose and scope2. Understanding grid codes: Regional grid codes and harmonisation 3.1Europe3.2North America3.3Latin America3.4Asia3.5Africa 4. Level of integration and cross-border trading4.1Bilateral vs. multilateral forms of regional grid code harmonisation 4.2Harmonisation in practice4.3Challenges to harmonisation 5. Key technical steps in building an effective regional interconnection5.1Grid planning and operation 5.2Emergency and restoration5.3Grid connection requirements for generators 6. Market