Welcome to NEPP

- North European Power Perspectives

 

Increased power export from Sweden to Germany due to nuclear phase out policy - transmission network considerations

This paper presents the future outlook on the electricity supply system in Germany with the newly effective policy on nuclear power phase out. Nuclear phase-out not only affects the generation mix in the supply system and the trade balance with other countries, but also has a potential impact on the power transmission system. The effects are found to be most severe in the North- South transmission corridors. Furthermore, the strain on the transmission grid is increased in the Western part and reduced in the Eastern part. This would show clearly the needs for internal grid management strategies, both in short-term and long-term in order to minimize the transmission system effects without having to curtail loads and generation. Increased electricity export from the Nordic countries to Germany is possible up to several GW, but will cause bottlenecks in more than 10% of the German transmission lines.
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Linking techno-economic modeling of Europe's electricity sector to large-scale CCS infrastructure optimization

The following preliminary conclusions can be drawn of the research that has been done so far:
• Even though being both considerably more expensive and requiring larger systems than onshore storage, offshore storage is the most likely alternative when storing large quantities of CO₂.
• Onshore storage of large quantities of CO₂ is associated with substantial difficulties, and is therefore considered unlikely to be realized. This is due to export dependency to a few, very large aquifers in densely populated areas, such as the Paris basin, where both storage capacity and annual injection capacity is highly uncertain, but also on the acceptance among the public and need of pressure reduction due to water production.
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Abundance of natural gas - increased supply of shale gas

The market for natural gas has recently seen a significant price reduction, most explained by additional supply of unconventionally extracted natural gas (shale gas). An example of this is that the USA no longer needs to import natural gas. A de-coupling from the oil price has also been seen. This can contribute in a positive direction with respect to meeting European CO₂-emission targets for 2020 and onwards. Assuming a ratio between gas price and coal price of 2,5 or lower, the analyses indicate a massive European expansion of gas power with CCS, instead of coal power with CCS which is seen at higher price ratios.
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Four main scenarios - a proposal

For NEPP, four different main scenarios are suggested: Reference, Climate market, Regional policy and Green policy. In the scenario-generating process, input and inspiration were taken from scenario studies made by other institutes and research organizations such as WEO of IEA, Power choices of Euroelectric and EU Roadmap of the European Commission. These scenarios were analyzed in order to identify similarities and differences as well as the fundamental concepts of the different scenarios.
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Prospects for radical reductions of CO₂ emissions from large-scale industrial emission sources in the EU

Our analysis confirms that EU:s short-term goal for GHG emission reduction in the sectors covered by the EU Emission trading system, 21% reduction by 2020 compared to 2005, is attainable with abatement measures already available. The 21 % reduction is also manageable for the industry sector as such.
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Impact of the German nuclear phase-out

Our analysis show that as a consequence of taking eight reactors out of operation, the increase in short-run marginal electricity cost generally remains below 4 €/MWh in the German electricity market during a calendar year. In the Nordic market, the corresponding price increase rarely exceeds 3 €/MWh.
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Capacity mechanisms

There is a revived interest in capacity mechanisms throughout Europe in the face of high volumes of intermittent generation.
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Hydro power as a balance resource

In a power system with larger amounts of wind power the controllable part of the system has to change its production in order to keep the continuous second-to-second exact balance between consumption and production. In this context a hydro power station can, compared to thermal power stations, rather easily be controlled with a high ramp-rate.
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A new research programme

A further integration of the electricity market in the EU opens up for the use and export of climate neutral Nordic electricity. As production becomes less predictable there will be strengthened requirements on regulation resources and on network capacity.
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An integrating research cluster

Through NEPP a research cluster is formed based on a number of ongoing research programmes and projects. The collaboration within the cluster adds to both increased research efficiency and strength through integration.
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Eight initial research questions

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A new research programme that takes a joint approach on:

A developing electricity market
A developing electricity production
A developing electricity demand
A developing power grid

It is a research cluster that connects several ongoing and new research programmes and projects.

The focus is on the future Nordic electricity market and the electric power system from the perspective of an increased integration with the full European electricity market.

The emphasis of NEPP lies on "syntheses in a systems perspective".

NEPP runs for 3,5 years (from 2011 through mid-2014).

 

>> Pathways to Sustainable European
Energy Systems

>> Market Design

>> IEA Wind task 25

 

 

page updated April, 26, 2012