Enhanced Grid Resilience: Mega Storage Solutions Promote Stability in Europe's Electrical Systems, Eliminating Frequent Blackouts
In the heart of northern Germany, Schleswig-Holstein is making significant strides in the country's energy transition, according to its Environment Minister, Tobias Goldschmidt, who is a member of the Green Party. Goldschmidt believes that Schleswig-Holstein is a pioneer in this transformative journey.
One of the key drivers of this transition is the digitalisation of electricity grids across the European Union (EU). This digitalisation is essential for responding swiftly to grid fluctuations caused by volatile renewable energy sources.
Goldschmidt emphasises the importance of investing in renewable energies, such as wind turbines and battery storage systems, rather than gas-fired power plants. This approach, he argues, is beneficial for a favourable energy supply in Europe.
A prime example of this investment is the battery storage facility in Bollingstedt, a town in Schleswig-Holstein. This facility, consisting of 64 mega-containers packed with battery technology, aims to provide high-voltage power on demand. This could potentially make slow coal-fired power stations obsolete as an energy reserve.
The need for such facilities is pressing, given the current lack of capacity in the electricity grids, leading to the curtailment of renewable energy production and resulting in billions in losses.
Germany, with its high wind power production in the north and the concentration of consumers in the south, needs what Goldschmidt calls "electricity motorways" and many intermediate storage facilities. The largest battery storage facility in Germany is, indeed, located in Bollingstedt.
The EU is also taking steps to expand electricity grids and storage capacities to promote climate protection. The designation of Projects of Mutual Interest (PMI) is a testament to this, with large cross-border grid projects like the "Sila Atlantik" project linking renewable energy sources from Morocco to Germany benefiting from simplified approval processes and funding under the Connecting Europe Facility.
EU directives also require member states to expedite approval procedures for renewable energy projects and designate acceleration zones and infrastructure zones to streamline grid expansion. The goal is to achieve a 42.5% share of renewables in gross final energy consumption and support the EU's climate goals, including an 80% renewable electricity share by 2030.
However, challenges remain. Some network operators are putting on the brakes in the digitalization process, and there are conflicts regarding network access. Goldschmidt also criticises the President's plan to import large quantities of liquefied natural gas, stating that people in Europe do not want fracked gas, and it's an expensive and non-market-based approach.
Greece is another country making strides in renewable energy storage. It is currently building large pumped storage power plants to convert excess wind or solar power into hydropower. As the costs of battery cells continue to decrease, more and more battery storage systems are being installed, for example, in Germany.
By the end of the decade, electricity consumption in the EU could increase by 60%, requiring an investment of almost 500 billion euros in transmission grids and over 700 billion euros in distribution grids by 2040. The expansion of battery storage systems in Schleswig-Holstein is increasing to better utilise the grids in this energy-rich region.
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