Over the past ten years, global wind power capacity has continued to grow at an average cumulative rate of over 30%. 2008 was another record year with more than 27 GW of new wind capacity being installed worldwide, bringing the total to over 120 GW. This dramatic increase in wind power means that harmonised and clear rules for connection to the electricity system are now more than ever necessary, says the wind industry.
According to the EWEA, “harmonised rules will lower wind energy production costs, contribute to an efficient management of the system, and lower the cost of the electricity for consumers”. As a result, the EWEA has published a concept of “structural harmonisation”, proposing a two-step approach: a structural harmonisation exercise, as proposed recently, with the aim of establishing a grid code template with common definitions, parameters, units and figures, as well as a common structure; to be followed by a technical harmonisation exercise, with the aim of adapting existing grid code parameters to the new grid code template.
The EWEA also welcomes the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity’s (ENTSO-E) ongoing work on a pilot code for wind generation. This project is a first step towards developing network codes across Europe, which is part of the remit of ENTSO-E under the EU’s continuing efforts to liberalise and create a single European electricity market. ENTSO-E is expected to publish a first draft in spring 2010.
“Wind power currently provides over 4% of the EU’s electricity. We expect wind power’s share of electricity demand to increase from 4% in 2008 to 16% in 2020. In order to ensure that such future penetration levels are manageable from a technical perspective it is important to develop clear rules across Europe”, says Paul Wilczek, the EWEA’s Regulatory Affairs Advisor.
In Europe, each country currently sets out its own technical specifications for power producers to connect to the electricity system and “the way in which grid code requirements in Europe have developed has resulted in gross inefficiencies and additional costs for consumers, manufacturers and wind farm developers”, explains Wilczek. “Streamlining the functioning of the system through harmonisation and greater transparency clearly creates a win-win situation for turbine manufacturers, developers and system operators”.
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