The German Energiewende

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22 | The German Energiewende The power grid A smart grid © dpa/Stefan Sauer Modern and efficient infrastructure is needed to transform Germany’s energy system. This means that new electricity power lines must be installed, while the system as a whole needs to become more flexible. When Germany’s nuclear power plants are shut down, renewable energy plants in northern and eastern Germany in particular will meet the shortfall. This energy is needed in southern Germany. The nuclear power plants located here should be replaced. The south is also home to a large population and major industrial firms. New electricity highways with particularly efficient technology will transport the electricity generated by wind farms in northern and eastern Germany directly to the south. The German power grid is 1.8 million kilometres long Where is the power grid being expanded? Planned new power lines in Germany’s maximum-voltage grid Not yet submitted for approval HAMBURG Submitted for approval BREMEN Approved or under construction Completed HANOVER BERLIN Network connection point Offshore wind park cluster Offshore connection cable DORTMUND LEIPZIG DÜSSELDORF DRESDEN COLOGNE FRANKFURT a. M. This equates to 45 times the circumference of the earth at the equator. STUTTGART NUREMBERG MUNICH The European internal energy market is the second driving force behind grid expansion in Germany. Better infrastructure is needed in the member states and across borders so that electrici ty can flow freely all over Europe and becomes cheaper for consumers. European transmission grid operators present a joint grid development plan every two years. All German projects are included in this plan. 2009 The Power Grid Expansion Act speeds up the approval process for new high-voltage power lines. 2010 The German Government adopts an Energy Concept, a long-term strategy for Germany’s energy supply until 2050.
The German Energiewende | 23 © dpa/euroluftbild.de/Hans Blossey “The Energiewende is the German equivalent of the project to get the first man on the moon.” Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany Grid operators in Germany conduct their own assessments, looking 10 to 20 years ahead to calculate what power lines the country will need. Their proposals are examined by a state authority, the Federal Network Agency. The public is highly involved in this process. The organisation uses a dialogue-based approach to weigh up what solution best meets the needs of people, the environment and the economy. The distribution grid also has to be upgraded for the shift to green energy. Originally designed only to transmit electricity to consumers, it functions like a one-way street. However, almost all solar plants and many wind turbines now feed electricity into the distribution grid. What is not needed locally flows in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the electricity generated by renewable energies fluctuates depending on the weather. Solar plants are very productive when the sun is shining, but their output drops rapidly when skies are overcast. Distribution grids must be upgraded. They need to become smart grids so that they remain stable even when electricity generation fluctuates. In a smart grid, there is communication between all those involved, that is, the people and firms that generate, transport, store, distribute or consume electricity. Generation and consumption can thus be coordinated more efficiently and adjusted at short notice. How a smart grid works Simplified diagram of actors, infrastructure and channels of communication Transmission network, distribution grid Control and communication Smart meters Electricity producers Conventional and renewable energies Consumers Households, industry, trade Market place Energy supplies, services and trade Transit in EU neighbouring countries Transport Cars, local public transport Storage Batteries, storage systems 2010 The EU adopts a directive on the energy performance of buildings. From 2021, all new buildings are to be “nearly zero-energy buildings”. 2010 The German Energy Agency (dena) publishes a study on the grid expansion needed for renewable energy to provide around 40 percent of Germany’s electricity.
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The German Energiewende

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