Improving the reliability of wind power
To make more effective use of wind power, the European Union is subsidising a group investigation into the feasibility of creating a reliable link from offshore wind parks to the European grid.
The study will examine how far it is possible to solve the problem of irregular power generation by wind force without complicated and expensive storage technology.
The study, which includes those countries which have border on the North Sea, covers: Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.
The idea is to make more effective use of wind power with the aid of a
joint high-voltage network between European cities such as Hamburg, Rotterdam and London and offshore wind parks.
The network would be based on Siemens’ gas-insulated power transmission technology. This is particularly well suited for high power transmission, says the company.
Conventional designs are filled with pure SF6, and have been operating safely and reliably in all parts of the world for many years.
They offer higher capacity compared with conventional cables and are either buried or laid in tunnels. They are a viable alternative for energy supply where overhead power lines are either not possible or where the capacity of cables is insufficient.
This North Sea network could also be used for exchanging energy in the whole region and could thus help boost electricity trading within Europe.
The European Union study has a total budget of E2.1million and will be subsidised for three years.
The Trans European Energy Networks are integral to the European Union’s overall energy policy objectives, increasing competitiveness in the electricity and gas markets, reinforcing security of supply, and protecting the environment.
The European Union finances electricity and gas transmission infrastructure projects of European interest.
A yearly budget of about E25million is spent mainly for supporting feasibility studies.
Most of the projects cross national borders or will have an influence on several European Union Member States.
For more information, visit www.siemens.com/ptd
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