Expanding the high-voltage grid is a complex puzzle now that the power grid is rapidly filling up. In a position paper, Maarten van Abbenhuis, CEO of grid operator TenneT, therefore asks the House of Representatives to help with the phased expansion of the high-voltage grid.
The position paper is one of the papers prepared in the run-up to the Electricity Grid Roundtable discussion. As operator of the onshore and offshore high-voltage grid, TenneT is often asked whether the highways for transporting electricity from solar and wind are growing fast enough to meet the climate goals in 2030 and 2050. Van Abbenhuis calls this question justified and understandable.
'It can't all be done tomorrow at once'
TenneT's top executive says the answer is yes, but it cannot be done all at once tomorrow. Van Abbenhuis calls it feasible to connect all renewable energy in line with the climate agreement by 2030. TenneT is already taking these ambitions into account in its investment plans for offshore and onshore grids.
"However, we will only achieve this high bar if all parties involved put their shoulders to the wheel and work hard together. Everyone has to perform. TenneT is not carrying out this complex challenge alone but in mutual dependence with the partners in the field. The many puzzle pieces of the transition will not be completely laid tomorrow. We understand that this leads to short-term concerns as parties are on hold and cannot be connected immediately. We understand this disappointment but in the current dynamics, developments are going so fast in some places that we have to make choices and we have to phase," the TenneT CEO writes in the position paper.
Complex puzzle
Van Abbenhuis points out a complex puzzle. For instance, the lights must always stay on. In practice, this means that work cannot be done everywhere at the same time. Therefore, the grid has to be expanded in phases. In addition, there is a shortage of technical staff. As a result, TenneT reports that it has to plan projects in an 'efficient sequence', taking into account security of supply.
However, even if enough manpower were available, connections cannot be realised immediately. This is related to spatial procedures. "We have great difficulty together with governments to
find locations to realise stations that have full support and can be authorised by competent authorities. These can be lengthy processes. Once it is done, we get straight to work. At the moment, we are working on almost all projects for which the planning application is ready," says Van Abbenhuis.
TenneT chief also points to the impact of infrastructure projects on the surrounding area. Van Abbenhuis therefore calls it important that all stakeholders are involved in these projects in a timely and proper manner. According to TenneT, participation is 'indispensable' to create support for the energy transition.
Help from politicians
There are a number of things politicians can do to help expand the high-voltage grid.
- Timely clarity and certainty on policy measures: TenneT calls it important that clarity is provided quickly on the impact of the new targets set out in the coalition agreement. In particular, this concerns the anticipated amount of renewable energy and the intended location. According to TenneT, this ensures planability and regularity. This makes integral working towards a future-proof energy system possible.
- Phasing and an integrated assessment framework: TenneT asks for help in phasing projects. In fact, this phasing requires prioritisation. Which project must be implemented immediately? And which project can also be done later? "Currently, customers are connected on the basis of the miller's principle: first come, first served. This is the implementation of the "no discrimination" principle as required by current legislation. The balancing framework needs to be endorsed by the government," Van Abbenhuis said.
- Maintain preconditions from the Climate Agreement: The grid operator says it is important that the preconditions agreed in the Climate Agreement remain in place. As an example, TenneT mentions that an additional task of offshore wind is accompanied by additional electricity demand from industry. Supply and demand thus remain more evenly matched, which is important for the stability of the system. Politics can contribute to this by guaranteeing such preconditions.
- Ensuring security of supply: Interconnection with foreign countries TenneT calls essential to realise a future-proof electricity grid. Interconnection makes importing electricity possible if domestic production falls short. A precondition for this is coordinating energy policy and the energy mix with neighbouring countries.
TenneT also points out its own role in solving the complex puzzle. Specifically, the company is working on four 'solution directions':
Investing and scaling up
- Growth: TenneT wants to grow to an investment volume of 6 billion a year, of which 2 billion in the Netherlands.
- Standardisation: The use of standardised components when maintaining or replacing high-voltage substations, for example.
- Material availability: TenneT points out that almost the entire world is focusing on the 2030 climate targets. This is leading to shortages of materials. TenneT is therefore focusing on joint procurement, which is possible because the company also operates in Germany.
- Gear: Connecting offshore wind farms to the high-voltage grid. TenneT cites its 2GW programme as an example of international upscaling, standardisation and cooperation.
Cooperation
TenneT collaborates with various parties, including:
- Central government: TenneT works with the central government in various bodies such as the PES, PEH, MIEK and the PIDI. These programmes provide guidance on electricity grid planning.
- Regional authorities: Task Forces Amsterdam and North Holland as an example. These are looking at how spatial planning processes can be faster. And actively help look for suitable locations for a high-voltage substation, for example.
- Joint initiatives: TenneT is working with NBNL and market players to expand the power grid faster.
Smart solutions
- Better utilisation: TenneT wants to use existing infrastructure better and more efficiently using smart solutions. As an example, the company mentions deploying the 'emergency lane of the power grid'. Here, it deploys special transformers to better distribute electricity. Or it deploys dynamic line rating for more intensive use of high-voltage lines when the wind is strong.
- Congestion management: Congestion management rules are being overhauled. So they are applicable to renewable energy generation. And deployable by regional grid operators.
Integral system design Target Grid
- Future-proof: The Integrated System Design Target Grid is a system design for the high-voltage grid for the future on land and at sea. It takes into account making industry more sustainable and generation of CO2-free energy.
- Directing: TenneT wants to empower the government to direct energy transition. And determine which projects are prioritised. "This directing role and prioritisation from the government is essential and currently lacking. And at a higher level, the target grid is going to help conduct the political debate on, for example, the degree of self-sufficiency in electricity and the import and export of electricity," writes TenneT chief executive Van Abbenhuis.
Expectations for 2030
In the position paper, TenneT also sets out its expectations for the year 2030. The company is then expected to have:
- 150 existing high-voltage substations prepared for the future;
- 55 additional high-voltage substations planned and realised;
- connected the wind farms from the current roadmaps. These generate enough power for four million households;
- over 1,350 km of cables and pipelines laid.
Further information is available in the position paper, which can be found here.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: Pixabay / Steppinstars
