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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