Electricity and solar industry join forces to get Europe’s grids ready for a solar PV revolution

With over 600 GW of complete put in solar capability focused by 2030, Europe’s electrical energy community should get ready to accommodate solar’s exponential development.

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, October 11, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — Solar power is overtaking fossil fuels throughout Europe. With over 600 GW of complete put in solar capability focused by 2030, Europe’s electrical energy community should get ready to accommodate solar’s exponential development and allow quicker decarbonisation. The solar and electrical energy industry got here collectively in three roundtables to focus on how to optimise solar PV integration into the grid. Right this moment the dimensions of the problem calls for a forward-looking method to community planning, standardised procedures, digitalisation, extra clear information trade and a complete evaluation of flexibility instruments.

Solar development represents a revolution for Europe’s electrical energy grids which had been initially designed for centralised energy technology. Right this moment, Europe and the USA have round 1,000 GW of solar tasks queued up to be plugged in. Nevertheless, connection delays brought on by grid congestion and prolonged grid improvement allowing are driving up PV set up prices, placing solar’s aggressive edge in danger. To keep away from slowing down Europe’s power transition, electrical energy networks should anticipate this solar-driven future, supported by satisfactory insurance policies.

“The power system is altering quick, so we want a new, forward-looking method once we modernise and increase our electrical energy grid. This implies designing community plans with a stronger renewable focus that considers wider time horizons and zooms in on extra granular low-voltage areas, the place most PV connections happen.” – mentioned Eurelectric’s Secretary Normal Kristian Ruby.

Member States ought to make sure that grid planning turns into all-encompassing, acknowledging infrastructure build-out wants in addition to grid digitalisation and flexibility deployment. Planning forward requires investing and coaching the workforce upfront to deliver applications to completion in a well timed method. The European Fee can cleared the path by incentivising anticipatory investments and figuring out finest practices with a new European Grid Motion Plan.

Whereas wanting forward, a number of actions will be taken within the fast time period to optimise grid connections and obtain quicker PV integration. Grid connection guidelines significantly differ throughout and inside EU international locations particularly on the low voltage degree. Standardising such processes is paramount. To this finish, nationwide rulebooks needs to be established to describe procedures, element timelines and clarify related actors’ roles.

Making certain larger visibility over accessible community capability can be key for challenge builders deciding the place to find their new renewable set up. Many DSOs have already developed grids capability maps and made them accessible on-line, however the trade of information might be additional improved to the advantages of all grid customers by adhering to clear pointers below an EU-wide nomenclature.

For small PV tasks or prosumer installations, a simplified notification system might be applied rather than issuing prolonged requests to DSOs, to pace up low-kilowatt plug-ins. Community operators also needs to be inspired to embody extra hybrid programs – a mixture of power sources reminiscent of solar and storage, or solar and wind – of their grid improvement plans to favour larger renewables and storage penetration.

SolarPower Europe CEO Walburga Hemetsberger mentioned: “The renewable-based future is right here. We’d like to ensure that system operators and solar turbines work collectively to guarantee residents can profit from clear, low-cost renewable power. Grid connections are one of many key points holding again the fast inexperienced transition. Options are there; good planning, funding, flexibility, digitalisation, innovation, ought to all be underpinned by political assist on the highest degree.”

Even with optimised connection processes, nevertheless, integrating a excessive share of variable renewable technology nonetheless poses challenges to sustaining grid stability. This calls for larger versatile capability to ease congested areas and assist steadiness the grid. As soon as mapped, all versatile options from native flexibility markets to non-market options reminiscent of versatile connection agreements needs to be assessed to enhance versatile capability and assist operators in managing grid congestion.

Europe’s solar development depends on an electrical energy infrastructure match for goal. We name on policymakers to improve the grid’s pivotal position in enabling Europe’s decarbonisation, by increasing its capability, easing allowing and investing in its digitalisation.

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Eurelectric represents the pursuits of the European electrical energy industry. We search to contribute to the competitiveness of our industry, present efficient illustration in public affairs and promote the position of electrical energy within the development of society.

Eleonora RINALDI
Eurelectric
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