Transfer Networks Not Following Development of Capacities of Energy from RES – Risk of Grid Congestion Unless Problem Is Addressed

The planned development of transfer networks in many European countries is not harmonized with the reality of the energy transitions, which risks their insufficient preparedness for the integration of wind and sun energy, the research center Ember says in a report.

The report says that as clean technology deployment surges forward, it is increasingly coming up against the bottleneck of insufficient grid capacity, leading to connection delays, curtailment and increased costs for consumers.

– We can’t afford to overlook grids. They risk holding Europe’s supercharged energy transition back if plans aren’t updated. Making sure solar and wind can actually connect to the system is as critical as the panels and turbines themselves. There is no transition without transmission – says the co-author of the report Elisabeth Cremona.

The planned network developments in a number of countries are out of step with the reality of the energy transition, which risks that “grid investments will be insufficient to deliver on 2030 energy security and climate ambitions.”

Ember’s analysis, based on 35 national grid development plans from European Transmission System Operators (TSOs) of electricity, shows that a number of grid plans are based on under-ambitious energy scenarios, risking that transmission networks will be inadequately prepared to support the expected wind and solar build out.

– Grid investments across Europe must be stepped up and planning processes fully aligned with the new reality of the energy transition – Ember estimates and points out that grid developments are characterized by much longer timescales than clean technologies and that failing to address grid capacity issues in a timely manner will be expensive, and already constitutes a substantial cost for many countries.

According to Ember’s analysis, 19 out of 23 national grid plans examined undershoot the deployment of solar expected under SolarPower Europe’s business-as-usual scenario, by a total of 205 GW by 2030, whereas wind is underestimated in ten out of 31 plans analyzed, by a total of 17 GW.

– These discrepancies imply grid congestion may worsen in the short-term as grids are ill-equipped to manage the rapidly growing renewable fleet – this think-tank estimates.

Ember

Elisabeth Cremona

development of transfer networks

renewable energy sources

RES

distribution network