Powering Europe - European Wind Energy Association

Nationalandeuropeanintegrationstudiesandexperiences
fiGURE 7: CoMPaRison of thE shaRE of winD PowER in thE PowER systEM (PEnEtRation lEVEls) stUDiED
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Different penetration metrics for highest wind power cases studied
180%
135%
90%
45%
0%
West Denmark 2008
Denmark 2025 a
Denmark 2025 b
Nordic+Germany/Greennet
Nordic /VTT
Finland /VTT
Germany 2015 / dena
Ireland / ESBNG
Ireland / SEI
Ireland 2020/All island
Netherlands
Mid Norway /Sintef
Portugal
Spain 2011
Sweden
US Minnesota 2004
UK
US Minnesota 2006
% (min load + interconn)
% of gross demand
% of peak
for studies covering several countries, the aggregated penetration level has been calculated. individual countries
within the study cases can have significantly higher wind power penetration levels [holttinen, 2009].
6.1 Germany
The most prominent integration study in Germany is
the DENA study published in 2005 and is still considered
as a milestone. It looked into a scenario whereby
there would be 15% wind energy penetration expected
by 2015 (34 GW) [Dena, 2005]. It concluded that the
required reserve capacities can be met with the existing
generation plant configuration and its operating
method as developed in this study. Wind power plant
capacity and generation figures are given in Table 4.
The study assumed a total generating capacity in Germany
of 125 GW (2003), 40 GW of which have to be
replaced before 2020 taking into account existing interconnectors
at the German borders.
US California
To balance the system with unforeseen variations in
wind power, short-term and hourly reserves must be
provided, capable of positive and negative regulation.
In 2003, an average of 1.2 GW and a maximum of
2.0 GW of wind-related positive regulation power had
to be available one day ahead in Germany. By 2015,
that amount would rise to an average of 3.2 GW and
a maximum of 7.0 GW. The mean value corresponds
to 9% of the installed wind power capacity and the
maximum to 19.4%. These capacities have to be
available as positive minute and hourly reserves. In
2003, an average of 0.75 GW and a maximum of 1.9
GW of wind-related negative regulation power had to
be available one day ahead. By 2015, that amount
would rise to an average of 2.8 GW and a maximum
US New York
US Colorado
US Texas
Powering Europe: wind energy and the electricity grid