2012 Activity and sustainable development report - RTE

MOVING TOWARDS ENERGY TRANSITIONMOVING TOWARDSENERGY TRANSITIONMANAGING PEAKS AND ALLOWING MORE FLEXIBLE CONSUMPTIONPower is an essential parameter in the scaling of an electricity system because electrical energy cannot be stored.Over the last ten years in France, power required at peaks has increased twice as fast as electricity consumption.It appears inevitable that load management measures have to be introduced. The Internet, information technologiesand smart meters will make it possible to improve the organisation and implementation of demand side managementprogrammes and load management measures thanks to load shedding in peak periods. They will also help the runningof energy efficiency programmes.Growth of electricity consumption peaks in France+ 2,300 MW for -1° C at 7 p.m. in winter – in MW102,100100,00080,00060,00040,00020,000079,59079,73083,54086,02086,28017/12/200110/12/200209/01/200328/02/200527/01/200617/12/2007Source: RTE Feedback report on the 2012 cold spell.88,96092,40096,71007/01/200915/12/201008/02/2012Peak load forecasts in France“one-in-ten chance” in GW119.2110.4120105.7100.7 100.2 98.8 97.5 97.7100806040200HighMedian New mix Low growthconsumption20142030Source: RTE Forward Estimate 2012.201420302014203020142030WHY DEVELOP INTERCONNECTIONS?They will be necessary, whatever scenario is envisaged, to improvethe security of supply, ensure solidarity between regions, countriesand territories and to integrate all the renewable energies produced.By 2025-2030, interconnection capacities are expected to have risenfrom 14 GW to 21 GW or 28 GW, depending on the scenario.Contractual exchanges on February 9, 2012 at 9 a.m.SUPERGRIDS TOMORROW?To take advantage of the installed capacity for wind production, powerlines are needed capable of transmitting high quantities of energyrapidly over long distances, with minimal losses, according to demand.The new European grid will have to ensure both energy security andsolidarity between regions.Development of renewable energies in Europe2,000 MW1,700 MW3,000 MWOnshore windSolar844 MW485 MWHydro-electric(including pumpedstorage)1,000 MWBioenergySource: RTE Feedback report on the 2012 cold spell.Source: Directorate-General for Energy.08