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Iceland and the European offshore electricity grid. Justin Wilkes Policy Director The European Wind Energy Association. More than 700 members from almost 60 countries. Manufacturers with a leading share of the global wind power market Component suppliers Research institutes
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Iceland and the European offshore electricity grid Justin Wilkes Policy Director The European Wind Energy Association
More than 700 membersfromalmost 60 countries • Manufacturers with a leading share of the global wind power market • Component suppliers • Research institutes • National wind and renewable associations • Developers • Electricity providers • Finance and insurance companies • Consultants • Contractors This combinedstrengthmakes EWEA the world’slargest and powerfulwindenergynetwork www.ewea.org/membership
Tackling the flexibility challenge • Variability is an inherent • characteristic of every • power system • Flexible generation is largely • provided by gas, hydro and • to a lesser extent biomass Large scale DSM and new energy storage remain unavailable in the short term • An economically viable • power system with large • amounts of RES will require • changes in all 3 areas Source: IEA 2011, Harnessing Variable Renewables
Momentum for grid development in Europe is evident • Already in September 2009 EWEA published its “Offshore Network Development Master Plan” • North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative signed by 10 countries in 2010 – ongoing work • Offshore Grid is a key part of the European Infrastructure Package • Second ENTSO-E 10-year network development plan in the making
Prominent grid infrastructure projects: • UK/Norway under consideration • NorGer - Germany/Norway ministerial agreement • Krieger’s Flak (Germany – Sweden and Denmark on hold) with EERP financing • Cobra cable (Netherlands/Denmark) with EERP financing • East-West interconnector, EIB loan (Ireland/Wales) • BritNed, EIB loan (UK/Netherlands) • Skagerrak 4 (Denmark/Norway)
Global cumulative wind power capacity 1990-2007 (MW) EWEA’s 20 year offshore network development plan • All necessary grid updates to transport all electricity produced by planned, proposed, under construction and operating offshore wind farms to European electricity consumers in an economically sound way • Recommends building a transnational offshore grid infrastructure to connect:40 GW by 2020 150 GW by 2030
Global cumulative wind power capacity 1990-2007 (MW) EWEA’s 20 year offshore network development plan • Based on: • Existing TSO plans • TradeWind scenarios • Added value of plan: • - Provides step by step timetable for grid development • Suggested capacities • Integrated with development/concession zones
Lines/branches: submerged HVDC cables characterised by transmission capacity, Offshore nodes: offshore platforms containing HVDC conversion equipment, switchgear etc. to serve as: common connection points for a number of offshore wind farms; common connection points for a number of other marine generators; and intersection (junctions) of network branches. Onshore nodes: connection points to interconnect the offshore transmission grid to the onshore transmission grid. Offshore grid design
Global cumulative wind power capacity 1990-2007 (MW) EWEA’s 20 year offshore network development plan Source: EWEA 2009
Global cumulative wind power capacity 1990-2007 (MW) Building the European offshore grid Benefits • Predictable energy output • Connections to more than one country • Power trading between countries • Viable alternative to onshore grid construction • Connection to other marine renewable energy sources • More economical utilisation of grid through shared use • More energy security • More interconnection capacity means more firm power • Build a single European electricity market to benefit all consumers • BUT: Iceland not yet part of these considerations
Current EU approach to facilitate grid developments Current TEN-E programme is insufficient - COM investmentestimates 2010-2020: • Electricity: 140 bn € (onshore, offshore and smart gridsat transmission and distribution level) • Gas: 70 bn € TEN-E budget 2007-2013 was increased from 155 mln € to currently 5.1bn € 2014-2020 in the „Connecting Europe Facility“ and revised guidelines on TEN-E
Agreement on Trans-European Networks Main elements: • Priority infrastructure corridors agreed – all renewables focussed • Northern Seas offshore grid • North-South electricity interconnections in Western Europe • North-South electricity interconnections in Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe • Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan in electricity • Priority thematic areas agreed • electricity highways • smart grids • national/regional TSO coordination (along the lines of CORESO, CECRE) • PICs and PTAs have: • Permitting and planning deadlines of 3 ½ years (binding...) • Access to CEF/TEN-E funding
A European Offshore/Supergrid Whatisneededfrom the Europeanstakeholders (+TSOs and Regulators): • A European approach towards an optimised European electricity system should be promoted. • Acknowledge that a European Offshore/Supergrid will be beneficial rather than costly for consumers. • Design and implement schemes that favour investment decisions, and ensure a cost recovery for the investors, especially on cross-border projects, which require a more coordinated approach. • Coordination is critical for tackling the challenges of potential distortions created by different interconnection regimes.
Recommendations for Iceland • Explore bilateral cooperation possibilities in energy policy in general • Particularly with the UK (in progress) • Make best use of regional cooperation fora • North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative • ENTSO-E regional group for North Sea grid development • Use EU legislation • Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28 cooperation mechanisms
Recommendations for Iceland • Explore business case for electricity exports to UK • Explore feasibility of HVDC interconnectors • Address technology challenge • Address financial risk
Ongoing challange: How to create a facilitating environment for private and public investments in energy infrastructure in the EU • Issue for TSOs/private investors: Most interconnectors might have good business case, but access to equity is difficult • Private investors often lack awareness on why investments in energy infrastructure are viable (low ROR, but also low risk, especially interesting for institutional investors) • Environment slowly changing: e.g. Mitsubishi engagement in Tennet to jointly invest in four offshore grid connections in Germany • Need to create a better investment framework for infrastructure • Investments: recognisedin the European Infrastructure Package • TEN-E budget should be used to leverage private finance, • be that EC Project bonds or equity, rather than grants
Thank you EWEA 80 RUE D’ARLON B-1040 BRUSSELS T: +32 2 213 1811 F: +32 2 213 1890 E: ewea@ewea.org www.ewea.org