offshore grids for wind power integration - Greenpeace

executive summary
“IT IDENTIFIES PRIORITIES FOR AN EFFICIENT INTEGRATION OF LARGE-SCALE OFFSHORE WIND POWER INTO THE EUROPEAN POWER
SYSTEMS WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OFFSHORE GIRD IN THE NORTH SEA.”
© PAUL LANGROCK/ZENIT/GREENPEACE
image OFFSHORE WINDFARM, MIDDELGRUNDEN, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.
objectives & scope
The study shows how offshore wind power in the North Sea is
suited to supplying the electricity demand. Perspectives are
developed for the interconnection of offshore wind farms by a
transnational offshore grid including an estimate of the cost for
marine power transmission infrastructure.
This study builds on the acquired knowledge from a large number
of studies by Greenpeace and other organisations, in which,
amongst other results, development roadmaps or forecasts of
installed offshore wind power capacity have been presented. In
contrast with those studies, the present study is technical. It
identifies priorities for an efficient integration of large-scale
offshore wind power into the European power systems with special
focus on the development of an offshore grid in the North Sea.
availability & variability of wind power
Although dependent on meteorological variations, the electricity
generated from wind energy over the years can be estimated with
high precision. Wind energy, therefore, is a reliable source for
electricity generation. Since wind power has neither fuel costs nor
noxious emissions wind farms should always be operated at the
maximal available power level.
With increasing amounts of wind power in today’s power systems,
wind power affects the dispatch of conventional power plants.Two
main effects, that have an impact on the overall efficiency of the
power system are explored here: availability of power and its
variability.The availability of wind power over the year is put in
relation to other generation units and demand. Especially at wind
power penetration levels of 10% and higher (corresponding to EU
targets for 2020), the variability of wind power generation over
several hours and days requires a more flexible dispatch of different
types of power plants than is done today.
The ability to meet demand at any time must be regarded for a
power system as a whole, taking into account the demand, the
flexibility of available conventional power plants, and
complementary renewable sources. In view of the social consensus
in favour of ambitious renewable energy targets in the European
Union, the power system needs to integrate generation from
sustainable sources proactively.
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