A Supergrid is the best way to optimise Europe’s changing energy system. Europe must transition to a renewables-dependent and thus weather dependent energy system and its grid infrastructure must transition with it. This is according to SuperNode CEO John Fitzgerald, Chairman Eddie O’Connor and Chief Public Affairs Officer Christian Kjaer who have published a research article in the European Energy & Climate Journal – Volume 11 Issue 1.
John Fitzgerald said:
“Renewable technologies like wind and solar have now matured to commercial feasibility. However, grid infrastructure and grid technologies are not fit to accommodate the required level of renewables, especially in the offshore space where no grid currently exists. We need a more holistic approach to grid planning, moving away from the current national and regional point-to-point approach and towards meshed grids and innovative transmission technology, planned at pan-European level”.
The research article argues that the issues of realising a grid, sufficiently robust to service the deployment of the vast increase in renewables, centre around the many institutional issues not sufficiently established in the EU:
- creating a European-wide multi-lateral governing body;
- designing, building and operating the offshore infrastructure;
- establishing principles for ownership;
- appointing a European-wide regulator;
- financing the infrastructure and establishing a tariff regime; and
- establishing a governance structure for coordinating with neighbouring countries.
The research article further argues:
“Europe needs an architect, independent of asset ownership, that applies a European perspective to offshore electricity infrastructure development and its interactions with the onshore grid.”
Eddie O’Connor said:
“There is sufficient wind and solar resources to power Europe indefinitely from a free and native source, but this cannot be done without a European-wide grid: The Supergrid.
“A European-wide governance system for transmission planning, based on the principle of anticipatory investments, could help to optimise the planning, development and operations of a pan-European Supergrid with a significant offshore section. This Supergrid would produce significant efficiency and cost benefits, allowing renewables to be built where the resource is strongest and delivering it to demand centres across the continent.”
The full research article can be found here