Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8.2 Power Integration and Outlook
8.2.1 Wind Energy in Power Generation Mix
In 2007 about 20 GW of wind power were installed worldwide. The first 5 of the
contributing countries were USA (5240 MW), Spain (3520), China (3000), India
(1700), Germany (1670)'; followed by France, Italy, Portugal, UK and Canada.
Speaking of Germany, the portion of renewable energies in electricity consumption
in 2007 was 14,8%, of which 7,2% came from wind systems.
The percentage installed power rating as well as of electric energy consumption
is expected to increase in the next years. In this situation a view on future generation
mix is appropriate.
8.2.2 Integration in Supranational Grids
Already now the high concentration of wind power in northern Germany produces
power flows within the country and the neighbouring countries, and affects system
stability and trading capacities. In medium-term additional reactive power compen-
sators and reinforcement of networks will be necessary. To maintain system stability,
fault ride-through capabilities must prevent the shedding of larger portions of wind
power generation in case of grid faults.
For risk mitigation the European Wind Integration Study [EWIS07], with a view
on the UCPTE network, proposes investigations for a time horizon 2015 on four
levels:
- Political analysis
Political support and priority for grid reinforcement and expansion
- Legal analysis
Harmonization of rules; improvement of Grid Code requirements for wind power
plants
- Market and business analysis
Integration of balancing market; harmonization of regional markets; coordination
by TSOs.
- Technical analysis
Sharing of wind power forecast information; usage of large scale energy stor-
age, systems of emergency control and demand side management; offshore
integration
8.2.3 Outlook on 2020
The notion of Climate Change which is meanwhile generally accepted has intensi-
fied the efforts to develop and increase the share of renewables in energy consump-
tion. It is obvious that wind energy plays a prominent role in all scenarios.
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