Grid integration of wind power needs special measures: UCTE

Grid integration of wind power needs special measures: UCTE

London (Platts)--17May2005


European power grids umbrella group UCTE Tuesday outlined seven steps it hopes
could overcome obstacles to the integration of wind power in the European
grid. The future growth of renewable energy in Europe is largely dependent on
wind, said UCTE, pointing to European Wind Energy Association projections of a
fivefold increase in wind capacity to 180,000MW by 2020. 

UCTE secretary general Marcel Bial said: "we need to move from a
local/national approach to a system-wide approach where we recognize that
major wind developments in one country impact on the interconnected grids of
neighboring countries." UCTE said that the fast expansion of wind coupled with
its intermittency and geographical concentraion in remote coastal areas meant
that it posed a special challenge to grid operators. "Everyone welcomes wind
but a 'yes' to wind means more lines and more back-up [for intermittency],"
said Bial.

UCTE has called on national and European legislators, regulators, grid
operators and grid users to implement seven steps, which it believes will lead
to a better intregation of wind power in the grid. The measures are: swifter
authorization for new grid infrastructure so that grids can handle increased
wind power; enabling wind turbines to actively contribute to grid stability by
meeting fault ridethrough criteria; re-examining priority rules for renewable
electricity (UCTE wants all power to be given equal status); safeguarding
sufficient balance management and frequency control; analyzing future
renewabele energy scenarios and related integration tasks; more research and
development for improved grid integration; more planning security through
renewables capacity steering. UCTE's Bial said the group had not costed the
various measures but insisted many could be implemented at no cost with just a
change in processes.

This story was originally published in Platts European Power Alert
http://www.europeanpoweralert.platts.com

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