Electricity grids are increasingly viewed as a critical component in the pursuit of a competitive, affordable, and environmentally sustainable industrial future for Europe. A recent position paper released by industry association CurrENT outlines several recommendations aimed at influencing policymakers to enhance and innovate electricity grid infrastructures across the continent.
In anticipation of upcoming initiatives, including the proposed clean industrial deal and the newly appointed energy commissioner’s industrial electrification action plan, CurrENT underscores the urgent requirement for innovation in both the broad deployment of existing technologies and the advancement of novel transmission and distribution solutions. The association advocates for a comprehensive strategy focused on the mass deployment of ‘innovative grid technologies’ throughout Europe.
Among the technologies highlighted by CurrENT are grid enhancing technologies such as dynamic line rating, advanced power flow control systems, high capacity conductors, and tools for grid inertia measurement and flexibility management. In an earlier study conducted by the association, findings suggest that the implementation of these technologies could potentially boost overall network capacity by an estimated 20-40% by the year 2040.
The position paper also calls for the establishment of specific smart grid targets to effectively monitor Europe’s progress toward developing a resilient grid system. These targets could include metrics like reducing the curtailment of renewable energy sources, lowering the costs associated with grid capacity expansion, enhancing the efficient use of the grid, and minimising raw material consumption per unit of grid capacity.
To facilitate the widespread adoption of these innovative grid technologies, CurrENT recommends the introduction of various financing strategies. These might include benefit-sharing incentives designed to reward system operators who implement a diverse set of technologies that ultimately save costs for consumers, along with guarantees that mitigate financial risks for grid operators during the trial phases of new technology deployments.
Moreover, CurrENT advocates for anticipatory investments that consider fully decarbonised energy scenarios, guided by the NOVA principle. This principle prioritises optimising and reinforcing the existing electricity network over merely expanding it, while concurrently promoting new high capacity and high efficiency conductor technologies.
According to the association, these recommendations offer Europe a viable pathway toward achieving a decarbonised power system by 2040, a crucial step toward meeting net zero emissions by 2050. They argue that incremental investment decisions made on a case-by-case basis will fail to produce optimal infrastructure, emphasizing the need for a long-term planning approach. Specifically, they suggest that Europe must proactively envision what an ideal infrastructure for 2050 would entail and subsequently devise plans to achieve that vision.
While CurrENT acknowledges that offshore network development plans represent a foundational step towards a cleaner, more secure energy system, they caution that current proposals do not fully address the integration of offshore energy resources. Notably, these plans overlook more than 80% of Europe's projected electricity generation for 2050, as they primarily focus on offshore wind energy without considering the implications for onshore integration and the delivery of electricity to consumers.
This comprehensive overview highlights the pressing demand for strategic innovation and development in Europe’s electricity grids as the region aims to enhance its competitive edge while steering towards a sustainable energy future.
Source: Noah Wire Services