"During sunny vacations, we maximize electricity grid operation"
Revamped Article:
Excess Power, A Double-Edged Sword: "Sun's shining, the power grid's on full blast!"
Flip-flops and sunglasses ain't the only things heating up on those sunny holiday weekends - the power grid sure is too! Indeed, May was a blustery gale of renewable energy: Wind farms and solar plants lashed the country with aplenty of electricity, more so than needed. And guess who's thrilled? Us consumers, as we're increasingly scoring ourselves some "freebie" juice! Grid operators, on the other hand, aren't exactly over the moon about this sweet deal. "Balancing supply and demand every second is no walk in the park with this wild wind," explains Werner Goetz, CEO of TransnetBW transmission grid operator. He adds that the expansion of renewables and the power grid needs a tighter workflow in the future, hinting at fresh rules for grid operations.
So, is this energy rainstorm a cause for celebration or alarm?
Goetz thinks it's a positive sign that we're making strides in the renewable energy race, a testament to our advancements. But long-term, the market systems need tweaks to adapt to the new generation and consumption circumstances. As for grid operators, they've already got their work cut out for them.
Solar and wind farms aren't exactly keen on this extreme rollercoaster either. With negative prices, the operators see less cash flowing their way. So if you're dreaming of building a photovoltaic park, best do the numbers: Predict the market prices and consider the possibilities of a battery storage system to level out the fluctuations. It's a good move for grid operators as well, smoothing out the energy influx.
"Should the power exchange price streak at 800 euros per megawatt-hour in power crunches and plunge to -250 euros during a 'bonus bonanza' on those sun-drenched holidays in May?"
That depends on who you ask. If you're rockin' a battery storage system, these wild swings are like money in the bank. Grid operators, however, are keeping their feet on the ground, dealing with this volatility as best they can. Consumers, meanwhile, could probably use a more steady electrical diet.
The grid itself doesn't have the luxury of storage, but it sure does have the knack for balancing local discrepancies, primarily between northern wind power production and southern industrial consumption. To nail this national and European-level balance, the infrastructure needs a serious overhaul - the old infrastructure, built for a completely different power landscape, ain't cutting it anymore.
When things slow down, the grid hits its full capacity, sending out the warning signals. To keep these packed situations manageable, some regulatory interventions – rule changes – are necessary, alongside grid expansion and upgrades.
Hellbrisen or calm periods, the grid's at its limit. What gives? Grid operators are clamoring for reforms!
Europe-wide or specifically in Germany on the hotly-debated North-South corridor? Both, others argue. The European grid's already highly integrated, connecting 42 transmission network operators. In time, the degree of meshing and transport capacities need to expand to stabilize the system. Recent studies suggest that better-developed grids could save 18 billion euros per year, shining a spotlight on the cost-beneficial nature of grid expansion.
Data Protection First, a hefty investment is called for in the grid...
You bet, Grid operators reckon a need of around 300 billion euros. But a sizeable portion of that cash is earmarked for directing electricity from the north to the south anyway. The extra savings of 18 billion euros stem from the enhanced connection of international coupling points.
Grid expansion strikes a dual victory: guaranteeing a reliable cross-European power supply and reasonable prices?
Right on que! That's the green dream, folks.
With the solar energy boom, Germany's generating heaps more renewable energy than ever before. The question remains: Is this galloping growth necessary in its current form or should we prioritize grid expansion, given that the grid's already straining at the seams?
Goetz advises a better synchronization of renewable expansion with grid expansion, stating that the past approaches have contributed to the grid's limits. Germany has ambitious climate neutrality goals by 2045, which calls for massive generation capacities.
Compensations for operators of idle renewables still cost taxpayers about half a billion euros. Goetz's call for better coordination seems to be code for rule changes.
During Hellbrisen, when we've more energy than we know what to do with, the peak demand in Germany dips to 30 gigawatts, while solar feed-in reaches its maximum. If the weather takes a turn, energy can be redirected to European regions in need. If that fails, grid operators might need to curtail solar plants, accessing them for a spin when necessary.
First, we try to offload excess electricity abroad, and if that doesn't work, we've got to disconnect the solar plants?
It's not exactly chopping off their head, but accessing and restricting the output is a possibility for larger solar installations. In January 2023, access was expanded to plants up to 7.5 kilowatts, thanks to the Solar Peak Act. For all newly installed solar plants, the feed-in tariff is suspended during negative electricity prices.
Lines could potentially glow when the network operates beyond its power-carrying capacity. Protective shutdowns might become a reality in such extreme cases, but this doesn't mean the lights go out.
Grid operators' 24-hour advance knowledge of where and how much energy will be generated and consumed helps prevent potential problems. By keeping the right balance, grid bottlenecks can be addressed with market interventions: generation is blocked or restricted in certain points, and in others it's enabled.
To sum it up, excess power ain't all that hot – grid operators have got their work cut out to keep the power flowing steadily, ensuring a smooth transition to a carbon-neutral world.
Werner Goetz chatted with Clara Pfeffer and Christian Herrmann. The conversation has been polished for better understanding and smooth sailing. You can listen to the unabridged conversation in the podcast "Klima-Labor".
Back to the grind: "Klima-Labor" by ntv searches for real-world, actionable solutions to combat climate change. From innovative ideas to busting myths, "Klima-Labor" covers topics of energy, transport, production, and consumption, keeping you informed, entertained, and up to speed on climate action.
- The renewable energy boom, particularly in solar power, has led to an excess of energy, a situation that poses challenges for grid operators, as observed by Werner Goetz, CEO of TransnetBW.
- Inline with the advancements in renewable energy, the market systems need modifications to reshape and adapt to the new generation and consumption scenarios, as suggested by Goetz.
- Grid operators are exploring the implementation of energy storage systems, such as battery storage systems, to counterbalance the fluctuations in energy supply caused by renewables.
- To ensure a stable and reliable power supply across Europe, investment in grid expansion and improvements is essential, as studies suggest that enhanced connections could yield cost savings of up to 18 billion euros annually.
