Last month, Denmark and Germany's electricity grids were connected through the offshore wind farms Krigers Flak and Baltic 1 and 2. It was the first time that two countries' electricity grids were connected through offshore wind farms, and the connection was called a milestone.
Now, the EU's competition authority has exempted the joint connection from its own EU rules, which require that at least 70 percent of the capacity in cross-border connections must be made available to the electricity market, and that the introduction of renewable energy must not be prioritized over trade between member states.
- It is very positive that the EU has understood that the Kriegers Flak Combined Grid Solution is a unique project that operates on completely different terms than traditional cross-border connections. We are pleased to receive a ten-year exemption with the possibility of applying for a further 15-year exemption, says Søren Dupont Kristensen, CEO of Energinet Elsystemansvar.
The rule was introduced this year and was supposed to help promote a free electricity market. But the rule is impossible to comply with for the new Combined Grid Solution (CGS) in its current form, so it has been necessary for CGS to be exempted.
Should show the way for energy islands
In addition to being an electricity connection between two countries' electricity systems, the CGS solution connects the upcoming Danish offshore wind farm Kriegers Flak and the two existing German offshore wind farms Baltic 1 and 2 in one common solution that smartly utilizes the power cables as much as possible, Energinet writes in a comment on the European Commission's decision.
When the wind blows, power from the three farms is sent to consumers in either one or both countries, but when it does not blow - or when the turbine power only fills parts of the cables - the excess capacity in the cables is offered to the electricity market, so that power can flow between the two countries.
The CGS connection is already supported by the EU and can show the way for how the future energy islands can be connected to the electricity grid in, for example, the Netherlands.
- When we connect offshore wind farms and exchange power with each other through them, we help to connect Europe together in a new, green way. At the same time, the new technology can contribute important experience to the future Danish energy islands, which will supply green power in the North Sea and on Bornholm, said Climate Minister Dan Jørgensen (S) in connection with the inauguration of the network.
esl
Text, graphics, images, sound, and other content on this website are protected under copyright law. DK Medier reserves all rights to the content, including the right to exploit the content for the purpose of text and data mining, cf. Section 11b of the Copyright Act and Article 4 of the DSM Directive.
Customers with IP agreements/major customer agreements may only share Danish Offshore Industry articles internally for the purpose of handling specific cases. Sharing in connection with specific cases refers to journaling, archiving, or similar uses.
Customers with a personal subscription/login may not share Danish Offshore Industry articles with individuals who do not themselves have a personal subscription to Danish Offshore Industry.
Any deviation from the above requires written consent from DK Medier.
