The Deal: European Supergrid Sets High Expectations

By Meg Cichon, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com
13 August 2012   |  

The plan for a European Supergrid is slowly progressing with each interconnector – but is it worth the investment?

 

New Hampshire, U.S.A. -- Imagine if we lived in a world where constant sunshine, flowing rivers, steady wind, abundant forests, and hot rock beneath our feet were equally accessible resources able to instantly power our around-the-clock energy demands. Alas, we do not live in a perfect world, and sometimes the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow.

Understanding the limitations of individual renewable sources, European leaders years ago set in motion a plan to solve climate issues and create the most ideal renewable scenario possible.

Eventually, they hope the European supergrid project will connect local renewable resources to all corners of Europe with interconnecting transmission, cutting waste, boosting economies and helping everyone to share the wealth. 

The big plan 

The North Sea Grid Initiative consists of Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom. These countries signed a memorandum of understanding back in 2011 to help spur offshore wind development and tap into the ideal types of renewable energy in different parts of Europe within the next decade.

Although some interconnectors already exist, according to the New York Times most European countries still rely on their own electricity production. But a vast interconnection network can reduce power prices and secure the energy supply throughout Europe. This would distribute power efficiently and create competition that can further drive down prices. 

Asia Report: After Quake, Japan Pushes for Asia Supergrid | Renewable Energy News Article

New Hampshire, USA -- Japan this week marks the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that has since forced it to re-evaluate its nuclear strategy. In doing so, it also unveiled a plan that could have big implications for renewable energy across the continent.

The Japan Renewable Energy Foundation and the Desertec Foundation are teaming up for a shared vision of an Asia Supergrid that would connect the national grids of Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia and Russia. Conceivably, this could open up opportunities for renewable energy development in which the power produced could be moved to where it is needed most. That means places like Japan, with fewer areas in which to build renewable developments, could benefit from wind power produced in placed like Inner Mongolia, where potential capacity far exceeds demand.

Electricity superhighways on the horizon

Electricity superhighways on the horizon

Posted At : September 24, 2009 3:27 PM | Posted By : Kate Rowland
Related Categories: Asset Management, Grid Operations, Overhead Transmission, Solar, T&D Asset Management, Underground T&D, Wind

One of the key energy challenges still facing our country is the long-haul transmission of renewable energy from the rural heartlands to the urban load centers: essentially, moving the abundance of potential in wind energy and solar power to areas of high need.

What’s holding this up, frankly, is the immense difficulty in siting high-voltage overhead AC and DC power lines. From NIMBY to BANANA, the response is clear: not near me, not if I can help it. Not with hundreds of feet of right-of-way necessary, and the concerns about eminent domain, electromagnetic fields (EMF), property devaluation and more top-of-mind. These days, a new transmission line can take from seven to 10 years to site and deploy – not good news from the federal government’s perspective.

Renewable Energy ‘Supergrid’ coming to Europe

Renewable Energy ‘Supergrid’ coming to Europe

UK’s energy and climate change minister, Lord Hunt shares his opinion, “We recognise that the North Sea has huge resources, we are exploiting those in the UK quite intensively at the moment. But there are projects where it might make sense to join up with other countries, so this comes at a very good time for us.” Lord Hunt is talking about several North Sea countries that have coalesced for a good cause. They are aiming to create a clean and green supergrid. This supergrid will be connected to wind farms of Scotland, solar panels of Germany and hydro-electric dams of Norway. This project will be ready soon and then the first green European electricity grid will become a reality. They have expanded a network of thousands of kilometers of highly efficient undersea cables. These network cables will cost around €30bn. This way renewable energy generated in any of the North Sea countries will be available to many.

Supergrid

Mainstream’s Chief Executive, Dr Eddie O’Connor, formulated the initial proposals for the European Offshore Supergrid in 2001 and is defined as “an electricity system, mainly based on direct current, designed to facilitate large-scale sustainable power generation in remote areas for transmission to centres of consumption”.  Whilst not seen by policy makers as a priority at that time, today
Supergrid is acknowledged as central to achieving Europe’s goals of security of supply and sustainability.

The Supergrid is a high voltage direct current (HVDC) network connecting offshore and onshore SuperNodes which collect the renewable energy and deliver it to the existing high voltage grid on land.
The Supergrid has the technology and scale to harness Europe’s abundant offshore wind in the North Sea. It is also capable of being deployed on land where there are gaps in a country’s or continent’s
energy capacity, such as in the US.