1. (may 2008) Integrating 300 GW of wind power
into a single European electricity grid
(may 2008)

2. Is there a limit to integrating wind?
“.. We do not think it is likely that there
will be a technical limiton the amount of
wind that may be accommodated as a
result of short-therm balancing issues but
economic and market factors will become
increasingly important.”

3. Contents
Wind power as an answer to the European energy chellenge
Wind power integration issues and points for action
Recently launched actions:
- Wind Energy Technology Platform
- Integration study TradeWind

4. Integrating 300GW of wind power in European power systems is feasible
Integrating 300 GW and more of wind power by
the year 2030 into European power systens:
Feasible option for the electricity supply
Increases security of supply
Contributes to low and predictable electricity prices
Environmentally sustainable

5. What is needed to make large-scale integration happen?
Power System Operation: Minor increase in additional balancing capacity.Power systems ahould become more flexible at all levels. Market rules need to be improved.
Grid infrastructure: At macro-level a stronger interconnected transmission grid with extensions offshore.Transnational grid concept offshore.Smart grid approach at local level. High up in priority list (TEN-E). Socialisation of costs.
Appropriate Grid Connection Codes: Grid codes developed in co-operation with stakeholders. As long as there is no single grid, there cannot be a single grid code.
Single European Grid: The internal EU electricity market needs to be completed: European grid concept, more interconnection, framework to stimulate new investments, more effective unbundling, more competitiveness, efficient market rules.European regulator.
Dedicated Research: Enhanced R&D efforts in co-operation with stakeholders (industry and TSO’s)

6. Balancing in a system with wind power
Effect of wind power on scheduling reserves is small compared to the size of wind power capacity
Extra cost for consumer (reserve and back-up) at 100% wind penetration for Denmark less than 10% of the consumer price (Energinet study)
For Europe with 100% wind power the extra cost would be lower-thanks to beneficial effects of power exchange

7. Grid codes and connection requirements for wind power
Realities of today:
- multitude of national grid codes and continuously changing requirements
- Wind turbines become smarter= capable for providing grid support
- Requirements are becoming more demanding e.g. for voltage support (during FRT and island operation) in development, even for old technology.
- Requirements are not always technically and economically justifield – often inspired by Grid Code designed for high penetration levels

8. Power system operation and market: recommendations
Future power system design more flexible:
Generation, operation of the system ( communication etc), demand side management, storage. Distribution grids must be more actively managed.
More interconnection to enable aggregation
Better interconnetion reduces additional balancing by dispatchable plants
More effective balancing and settlement procedures
Balancing cost should reflect the aggregate imbalance
The balance market rules to improve accuracy of forecasts and enable temporal and spatial aggregation of wind power output forecast.Long gate-closure times should be reduced for variable output technologies-
Curtailment of electricity production according to least-cost principles from a complete-system point of view.
As wind power is free, constraining of wind power should be the last solution and restrictd to a minimun.
Harmonise methods for system studies to enable comparison

9. Grid codes: recommendations
Costly technical requirements should only be applied if their introduction is required for reliable and stable power system operation (= not at low power penetatrion levels).
Development towards a single grid code should be done in a transparent and not-discriminatory way in co-operation between industry and the power sector. Process supervised by a European regulator ( green paper EC March 2006)
R&D should continue to further improve the knowledge on dynamic interaction of system and wind power plants.
EWEA initiative to co-ordinate input of wind industry in development of Grid Codes.

10. Wind power benefits to security of supply
Substitution of (imported)fuel burned in conventional (thermal) plants
Replacement of conventional generation capacity ( wind powers capacity credit): between 35% and 10% WP capacity
Technology diversification
Increase of price security – reduction of portfolio
costs/risks by price stability

11. Grid infrastructure upgrade: recommendations
Large geographical spread of wind power should be encouraged a.o.through adequate interconnection.
Cost of grid connection should be socialised as for allo other technologies.Grid connection charges should be fair and trasparent.
Planning of grid infrastructure (interconnection, offshore, transnational reinforced grid) and planning of wind power projects should be co-ordinated on the European level ( Offshore action plan).Priority Interconnection Plan should take account of WP.
Public Private Partnership and use of structural funds (e.g. via TENE) are recommended financing instruments.
Studies needed to investigate transnational aspects of wind power integration to back up the priorities in grid reinforcement projects.

12. Recommendation: proper standard for determination of capacity credit of wind power
Proper standard – uniform method needed for determining wind power capacity credit for system adequacy evaluation and planning, to be used by TSO’s.
- In general . At present (low) levels of wind power
penetration, the capacity credit of wind power is higher
than the aggregated long-term average capacity factor.

13. TradeWind results include
Quantified effects of distributed wind power feed-in on continental and cross-border flows. In time steps until 2030, including uncertainties resulting from forecast errors
European capacity credit of wind power (boosted by interconnection)
Ranked recommendations for offshore and onshore grid upgrade; by investigating different scenarios looking at selected transmission corridors
Survey of power exchange market rules and constraints
Proposals of solutions to facilitate maximum exchange of wind electricity via markets resulting from extensive market simulations

14. TradeWind: recent wind power integration study coordinated by EWEA
Objectives
To develop recommendations for development of market rules and interconnector allocation methods to support wind power integration
Scope Europe UCTE-NORDEL.GB Ireland and Island
Time horizon up to 2030
Based on a detailed study of future wind power scenario’s and international market mechanisms
Targeted at relevant stakeholders (TSO’s, generators market parties, EU and national policy frameworks)

15. Overview of an offshore windpark (Egmond aan see, NL)
Project background
Electrical design
Environment, society, and economics
Summary

16. Why this windfarm? Long-term ambitions of Dutch government
- Offshore wind energy is an important national energy resource
- Long history of use of wind power in the Netherlands
- EU obligation to meet 9% of electricity use from renewable sources by
2010
- Ambition to develop up to 6000 MW of offshore windpower in NL
Dutch governmenthas initiated a “demonstration project”
- Identification of location, via Environmental Impact Assessment
- Creation of economical framework ( --> financial support)
- Public tender for developer/investors
Shell and Nuon won the concession in 2002

17. Environmental and social aspects
Visibility from shore
Harm to animal species, regardless of whether they are protected or not
- Birds
- Marine mammals (seals, harbour porpoise)
- Fish
- Benthos
Shipping safety
These concerns have all been thoroughly addressed
- Extensive environmental impact assessment
- Independent monitoring programme
- Formal “stakeholder group” including NGO’s to ensure integrity

18. Economics Total construction costs are over EUR 200 Million
Financed by shareholders Shell (50%) and Nuon (50%)
Government financial support
- Investment subsidy EUR27 million
- General fisical regulation EIA worth EUR 14 million
- Operational subsidy (EUR 97/MWh) during 10 years of production
CO2 emissions reduction over 140 million Kg per jaar
- Similar to CO2 emissions of 35,000 cars
A good deal for Dutch consumers?
- Costs for initial project are high, but expected to decreasse over time
- Net benefits to society are positive due to spinoffs

19. Summary Windfarm Egmond aan Zee is highly Innovative power plant:
- First offshore windfarm in the Netherlands
- First windfarm with large (3MW) turbines in full sea and relatively deep (20 mater) water
- Largest windfarm in the Netherlands
Offshore wind energy is one of great renewable energy resources in the Netherlands, and Shell and Nuon are working on new projects.
Development of future offshore wind farms is besed on twin pillars of Innovation and investment.
R&D remalns essential to address key growth questions
- Reduced capital and operational costs
- Improved technical reliability
- Windfarms to meet ever-increasing demands from grid operators

20. Location 36 vestas V90 (3 MW) turbines : 108 MW Km offshore 38 kV AC offshore cables to an onshore subst. All cables are burled in the seabed (depth 1-3meter) Step-up to 150 kV and connect to grid

21. The aim of the programme
To gain knowledge needed for implementation of 6000 MW wind energy at the North Sea.
(= 15% of present electricity demand in NL)

22. Sea Targets
Reduce generation cost of offshore wind energy: installation, opersation costs
Increase value of offshore wind electricity
Planning regulations, which favor wind energy
Outline for grid modifications

23. Consortium’s Targets -Reduce generation costs of offshore wind energy and increase value of wind electricity -Planning regulations which favor wind energy -Outline for grid modifications

24. Offshore projects in NL: Q7
E-Connection -> Evelop
60 Vestas 2 MW V80 -> 120 MW
23 KM from coast
19-24 m water depth
Monopiles
Authorisation completed
Construction started ( Cables, Towers)
In operation mid 2007

25. We@Sea E= 26 million € 0. integration & scenario’s 1,3
1. offshore wind power generation ,7
2. spatial planning & environment ,2
3. energy transport & distribution ,1
4. energy market and financing ,2
5. installation, operation,
maintenace & dismantling ,3
6. training, education,
& dissemination of knowledge ,7
7. programme management ,6

26. …. and some other projects
Multi functional wind farm concepts ( e.g. mussel production)
Very large rotor blades
Dedicated offshore wind turbine concepts
Design tools (structural dynamics, frequency domain analysis)
Wind farm control strategies
Sea floor morphology
Effects of wind farms on sea mammals, birds, benthos, fish
Grid stability, balancing (and its economc consequences)
Optimised integrated foundation and installation methods
Offshore access technology
Port development
O&M optimisation (incl. ’cost estimator’)

27. Why a national approach?
NL has a strong offshore industry. Integrated approaches with wind turbine industry needed.
Spatial planning, environmental issues are region .
Legal and policy issues are country specific (until EC directives are in place).
Energy market & financing issues are country apecific until EC harmonisation is effective.
For importing HiTech local expertise (training & education) is needed.
For maximising economic added value, highly specialised local services ( installation, exploitation, maintenance & decommissioning, project design, financing, EIA, etc) need to be developed.

28. Why international co-operation?
Risk profile of offshore is so high that full exploitation of all available expertise is needed.
To avoid unnecessary duplication and thus reduce development cost. (R&D and testing infrastructure, pre-normative research, pre-competitive research, sharing grid connecting and transport capacity, results from atmospheric research, nature and environment)
Faster learning by sharing experiences

29. Some lessons learned
Bottom-up initiative is essential
Co-financing level too low (< 50%)
Demand based projects sometimes conflict with highest scientific requirements
Regional programmes form an excellent basis for international collaboration.

31. Integrating wind energy
In the European
Electricity grid
Ronnie Belmans
Offshore Workshop, Delft, Oct 2006

32. Overview
Synchronous areas in Europe
- Cross-border flows
Transmission congestion
- Loop flows
Wind power is a problem

33. Why create synchronous areas?
Increas grid reliability and mutual support
- Improved system frequency control to minimize major disturbances
- Mutual support in case of emergencies
- Sharing reserve capacities
Facilitate fuctioning of the electricity market
- non-disciminatory domestic and cross-border access to the grid
Example of direct benefits
Zone of 15 GW production capacity loses its largest unit 1 GW
-isolated: needs to develop 1 GW in less than 5s to avoid collapse
-As a part of UCTE it needs to develop its share of the largest UCTE
unit, and thus 5% of 3GW, in 15-30s.

34. Synchronous areas (2)
Coordination and control of the electricity flows
- Interdependency of power flows
- Interconnected systems share benefits and problems
Problems on top of the above
- Often different standards applied in control zones

35. Interdependency of cross-border flows
Cross-border flows even with balanced control zones
Congestion on cross-border interconnections
Loop flows
Transit flow

36. Operational handbook (UCTE)
Synchronous areas (3)
Operational handbook (UCTE)
“Stronger interconnections require common and consistent understanding of grid operation and control and security in terms of fixed technical standards and procedures”
Result of discussion between all involved TSO’s
- Successor of past technical amd organizational rules and recommendations
Unification and formalization of standards
- To make the best possible use of benefits of interconnected operation
- To Keep the quality standards in the market environment

37. Overview
Synchronous areas in Europe
- Cross-border flows
Transmission congestion
- Loop flows
Wind power is a problem

38. Transmission Congestion
What is transmission congestion?
- Congestion – when demand for transmission capacity exeeds the available transfer capability
- Sources of congestion
- Thermal line limits
- System security (i.e. n-1)
- Voltage stability issues

39. Types of congestion Internal congestion
- Congestion within a single control zone
- Problem of individual TSO (but colleagues can help)
- Handled on basis preferred by TSO
Cross-border congestion
- Congestion between control zones
- More than one TSO involved
- Different market rules
- Procedures difficult to agree upon
- Much more complex problem

40. Internal congestion Causes
Internal congestion is not new
- Cheapest generation always given priority
BUT
- Central dispatch accounted for grid limitations
Under liberalized market things changed
- Control zone network considered as copper plate
- Market players do not care about limitations
no incentive to “care”
- Still the same rules-cheapest MWs get priority
- If cheapest can not be dispatched: must run and pay

41. Internal congestion How to handle it?
Re-dispatching
TSO pays some generator for increasing prodection, other for decreasing it
- Costs are socialized
- considered as ancillary service
- possibly organized as a market
Optimal line switching
- Changing the network topology
load shedding
- Switching off (interruptible) loads

42. Cross-border congestion Different energy prices
Causes
Different policies concerning energy sources
Nuclear – no nuclear, availability of natural gas, coal lignite
Different policies concerning energy safety
Choice to rely on import
Different fiscal rules
Taxes, environmental regulation
Different energy prices

43. Cross.-border congestion – difficulties
More TSOs involved
Different market rules
Coordination and cooperation issues
Different languages/software systems
Confidentiality of data
Interdependency of power flows
Allocation on one border influences all the other
Zonal network model
Loop flows

44. Cross-border power flows in European grid
Typical power flow pattern
Countries structurally exporting or importing
However:
Unstable productin strongly influences the pattern
Wind generation
Restrictions consist typically of several lines
What matters for the grid are individual lines flows!
This differs considerably from the physical “border capacity”

45. Cross-border congestion – difficulties
Origin of loop flows
Contract paths <> current path
Electrons do not read contracts
Dispatch changes within a control zone
Cross-border exchange stay the same
Individual line power flows differ
Wind generation
Significant but unstable energy source
Too few wind is bad
Gradual production decrease
Too much wind even worse!!
Instantaneously off-line

46. How dangerous can the loop flows be?
Unannounced wind power in the north Germany
Actual event – Monday 27 Oct.2003, 18h00 – 20h00
Very heavily loaded DE-NL border
4550 MW total physical flows in the direction of NL
2380 MW more than scheduled
Loss of n-1 security on 2 cross- border lines
Loss of n-1 security on phase shifting transformer
Gronau (charged at 1250 MW)
Risk for the blackout of Benelux

47. Overview
Synchronous areas in Europe
- Cross-border flows
Transmission congestion
- Loop flows
Wind power is a problem

48. Large wind parks problematic for the network
Wind power is a problem
Large wind parks problematic for the network
Unstable dispatch within a zone
Will there be wind ? Not too much?
Unstable loop flows
Benelux case
Positive correlation between loop flows and wind in Germany
Up to 0.4
Loopflows almest entirely through BE and NL

49. Different policies put demands on grid
Conflicting policies
Different policies put demands on grid
System adequacy
Market facilitation
Connecting renewables (wind)
Leads to conflicting policies nationally
But also internationally
1 grid expansion = 1 policy, not 3

50. Countries tend to rely on import
Conflicting policies
Internationally
Countries tend to rely on import
We do not need nuclear … we import it
Screw your neighbors and install a wind park
Green policy neighboring country causes transits
Reducing grid potential for domestic policies
CO2 measured at the power plant

51. Facilitating integration of wind power
Coupling wind power – hydro power
Shorter gate closures (1h)
England & Wales since March 2001: 3.5 (NETA)
+ Scotland since July 2002 : 1h (BETTA)
Better short term wind predictions

52. Different challenges face EU electricity grid
Conclusions
Different challenges face EU electricity grid
Sustainable energy requirements should take grid issues into account
Wind power poses problems for the grid
Possible solutions
Wind-water
Shorter gate closure
Better wind predictions