TenneT-Study about connecting offshore wind energy: high idle costs possible

Bayreuth, Germany - A study carried out by Offshore Management Resources warns of annual idle costs of up to 1 billion euros when connecting offshore wind turbines in the North Sea.

The study investigated the implementation status of offshore wind farm projects in the German North Sea on behalf of transmission system operator TenneT. According to this, only between 3700 megawatts (conservative scenario) and 5900 MW (optimistic scenario) of wind energy capacity will be able to be constructed in the North Sea over the next 10 years up to 2023. At the same time, there is already a connection capacity of 6200 MW for offshore wind turbines in the North Sea. This capacity could already be sufficient for realistic expansion of the wind energy according to the study.

Lex Hartman, member of TenneT's executive board, is now demanding the following as a result of these findings: "In order to achieve the aims of the energy policy turnaround, we need a robustness criterion for the offshore wind energy extension objectives. This is the only way that we can achieve a realistic and efficient expansion of the wind energy generated at sea." Mr Hartman continued: "It is already apparent that the danger of a gap between the erection of the grid connection system and construction of offshore wind farm capacity exists. We are already building connection capacity ahead of time. We urgently need to find ways of evenly advancing the expansion of offshore wind energy capacities so that the existing connection capacities can at least be used effectively. For this reason, we would like to define measures which will safeguard optimum usage of the commissioned grid connection capacity together with politics and the wind farm sector. This can play a decisive role in the retention of acceptance for offshore wind energy as an important element in the energy policy turnaround."

TenneT is already operating or building 11 grid connection systems capable of transporting 6200 MW of offshore wind power in the North Sea. Two further systems with a total of 1800 MW are out to tender and could be awarded soon. This complies with the German government's plans and the specifications provided by the offshore grid development plan At the same time only a minute proportion of the planned wind capacity (2,900 MW) in the North Sea has been bindingly assured, according to the study. 2,300 MW of the above have already been constructed. In contrast, a significant addition of grid connection capacity up to a total of 12,800 MW is proposed in the offshore grid development plan by 2023.

Source: IWR Online, 17 May 2013