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The European Supergrid is inevitable

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3rd International Student Energy Summit, Trondheim 13 June 2013Ana Aguado, CEO, Friends of the Supergrid

The Friends of the Supergrid

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The Friends of the Supergrid

History of the Internal Electricity Market

●1986 European Single Act●1996: the first directive is adopted (after 8

years of discussions, a record)●2003: second package with new directive

(repealing the previous one) and a new regulation for cross-border exchanges. Plus ERGEG (European regulators group)

●2009: third package with new directive and regulation (repealing the previous ones)

OBJECTIVES OF ENERGY PACKAGES

●Create competition for the industry and the consumers

● Improve the liquidity of the markets

An open market integrated and competitive

EC Regulation in force from 15 May on European infrastructure priorities

● Priority limited to 12 strategic trans-European corridors and areas

● Rules to identify projects of EU interest ● Harmonised cost benefit analysis● Coordination of cross-border investments

approval process● Conditions for eligibility of projects of EU

interest

Why then….the Supergrid?

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Offshore wind

Solar

Hydro

• Carbon neutral Europe by 2050

• Single European electricity market

• Secure and sustainable supply

• Transformed energy system

• Innovative technology to use and export

• Skilled employment opportunities

What is the Supergrid?

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Offshore wind

Solar

Hydro

The Supergrid is a pan-European transmission network facilitating the integration of large-scale renewable energy and the balancing and transportation of electricity, with the aim of improving the European market

Timetable – Phase 0 and Phase 1

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Phase 0 – 2015-2020

Phase 1 – 2020+

Policy and Regulation

Supergrid requires:– a new and stable community-wide

regulatory framework backed-up by strong political support.

– a full top-down EU approach planning methodology.

– risk adjusted returns to attract substantial investment.

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New policy and regulatory aspects needed●2050 Supergrid design now: develop in phases

●One operator in future: a European ISO?

●EU grid codes●One regulator●Ownership: TSOs and

investors

Possible Regulatory hints for the future Supergrid

OffshoreGrid Study: Hub connections would save €14 billion and additional meshed connections costs of €5-8 bn would bring benefits of €16-21bn

Windmolenparken op zee

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Roadmap to Supergrid TechnologiesUpdates 2013

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“1st Roadmap Technology“ Report in March 2012

● Applications for Supergrid ● Network Technologies for Supergrid ● Scenarios for the Development of Supergrid

Roadmap update March 2013 (106 pp)● Recent developments in line with the scenario● New Sections on

● Energy storage● Supergrid control● Relation Microgrid and Supergrid

● Supplementary report on work in CIGRE & CENELEC(25 pp)

Read it – appreciate your comments and suggestions!

Recent Key DevelopmentsTechnical landmarks during 2012

● DC current interruption enable planning of the HVDC Supergrid now. Building blocks

– Hybrid HVDC Breaker and Half bridges– Full bridge with fast switches

● Capacity increase in cable factories, ships, production and engineering facilities are announced

– Gearing up for anticipated larger future volumes

● The number of interconnection and embedded HVDC links in construction increases rapidly with higher power ratings

– E.g. South-West link SE, EWIP IR-UK, INELFE FR-ES, Western link UK

● FOSG technology members spend every year around 4% of their turnover on R&D: large part on transmission

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Meshed HVDC Grid system Here breakers are needed to isolate faults on the DC side from the remaining healthy parts

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In a future power network with a high density of DC converter station it is logical to connect them also on the DC side to have a combined AC and DC transmission grid

The Hybrid HVDC BreakerAnnounced in Nov 2012

● Selected by MIT Technology Review as one of ten breakthrough technologies 2012. “The high power breaker makes the HVDC power grids practical. ... The Supergrid is a key to sustainable economic growth”

● The Hybrid path enables a dramatic reduction in losses and operation below 5 millisecond

● Also available as a pure semi-conductor design with breaking operation below 1 millisecond, but with higher losses

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Image by ABB

DC Breaker modelSeveral manufacturers have reported successful HVDC breaker tests results

18Image by Alstom

Full Bridge Converters - Most Powerful and Flexible Solutions for Transmission

Full Bridge MMC as already used for power frequency conversion and reactive power compensation in

Industry and Energy applications. (Image by Siemens)

Main Features:❖ Inherent DC turn-off capability

❖ Independent DC Voltage control for:– Load flow control in extended DC Grids– DC fault current control– Unlimited number of fast and smooth

DC Voltage recoveries after faults

❖ Broad experience in 74 Industrial and Energy applications in operation or in project execution (April 2013)

No Transition without Transmission

www.friendsofthesupergrid.eu

Ana Aguado Cornago