New transmission technologies enabling a clean, efficient and secure electricity system

Duration: 2012 – 2015 ● Client: European Commission (IEE) ● WIP Role: Market uptake, Policy development ● www.gridtech.eu

For the achievement of the European Union’s ambitious renewable energy targets for 2020 and beyond, extensive electricity system planning and investments are necessary. This covers electricity generation capacity, transmission networks, and supporting technologies and measures that will ensure clean, secure and efficient energy supply.

The main objective of the GridTech project is to conduct a fully integrated impact assessment of new grid-impacting technologies and their implementation into the European electricity system. This will allow comparing different technological options towards the exploitation of the full potential of future electricity production from renewable energy sources (RES-E), with the lowest possible total electricity system cost.
The purpose of the analysis is to assess where, when, and to which extent innovative technologies could effectively contribute to the further development of the European transmission grid, fostering the integration of an ever-increasing penetration of RES-E generation and boosting the creation of a pan-European electricity market, while maintaining secure, competitive and sustainable electricity supply.

The Gridtech analysis includes electricity generation technologies, with a focus on variable RES-E:

• Onshore and offshore wind energy generation technologies
• Large-scale solar technologies: Concentrated-Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaics (PV)

Technologies directed at improvements in transmission network control and flexible electricity system operation:

• Bulk energy storage technologies (Pumped-Hydro Storage & Compressed Air Energy Storage)
• HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) both VSC-based (Voltage-Source Converter) and CSC-based (Current-Source Converter)
• FACTS (Flexible Alternating Current Transmission System)
• PST (Phase Shifting Transformers)
• WAMS (Wide Area Monitoring System)
• Demand Response Technologies/Measures