Decentralized energy transition can reduce grid expansion

30.07.2018 – As part of the "Transparency of Electricity Grids" project, the Oeko-Institut e.V. has examined various development scenarios for the German electricity sector. The focus was on creating a technical basis for the discussion between supporters and critics of grid expansion. However, proper grid planning can hardly succeed at the moment, as neither the question of a coal phase-out has been clarified nor is there a fixed expansion plan for renewable energies.

For this reason, the Oeko-Institut's experts now recommend a rapid and better structuring of the energy transition, a comprehensive analysis of the effects of greater decentralisation of the expansion of renewables and the creation of a "Grid Expert Committee". The results are summarised in the brochure "Transparency of Electricity Grids – Stakeholder Discourse and Modelling of Grid Expansion and Alternatives".

Coal phase-out, abandonment of electricity highways, decentralised energy transition

The most important scenarios of the analysis were not only the effects of a rapid coal phase-out on the grids, but also those of abandoning large electricity highways such as SuedOstLink. It was also examined how a decentralised energy transition and a power supply consisting of 85 per cent renewables affect the electricity grids.

"The current scenarios of the grid development plan are more ambitious than previous variants," emphasises Christof Timpe, Head of the Energy & Climate Protection Division at the Oeko-Institut. "However, there is still no scenario that would undermine the obligation to use CO₂reduction that results for Germany from the Paris Climate Agreement."

Proper grid planning can hardly succeed

It is therefore urgently necessary that the upcoming steps of the energy transition are now quickly defined. "As long as it is unclear whether coal-fired power plants will be operated with a capacity of zero or over 30 gigawatts in 2030 and the range of renewable generation capacity is 150 to 220 gigawatts, proper grid planning can hardly succeed," said Timpe.

However, he also emphasizes that grid expansion should not be fundamentally questioned. However, in view of the current situation, the Federal Republic of Germany runs the risk of expanding the electricity grid differently than it will actually be needed later.

Avoid grid expansion through decentralised energy transition

Critics of the current grid development plans, who point out that part of the grid expansion could be avoided by a decentralised energy transition, can also feel vindicated. Timpe agrees with you on this point, but also points out that this requires an honest and well-founded social debate. After all, a reduced grid expansion is only possible "if we can agree socially to accept a very large expansion of wind turbines near the centers of electricity consumption."

The "Transparency of Electricity Grids" project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has already made a start on such a discourse and brought together a group of stakeholders from various environmental and consumer organisations as well as individual citizens' initiatives. Among them was not only the "Action Alliance against the South-East Route", but also the BUND and NABU as well as the German Environmental Aid and Germanwatch. The result was independent interpretations and conclusions of the participants. jk

source : Decentralised energy transition can reduce grid expansion - energiezukunft