Plenary session Ι Will decentral, digitised and decarbonised lead to disruption?

Wednesday, 13 September 2017, 14:20-14:40h/V02

Central or Decentral it depends - a matter of analysis and planning

Prof. Dr. Michael Weinhold, Siemens AG

The complexity of the electricity system has increased massively in the last 20 years: from a central and fully dispatchable power plant setup to a mix of central and numerous renewable power plants. This trend hast been driven especially by the cost-out in wind turbines and photovoltaics. Once passive market participants like the residential consumer are now partly producing their own energy. The rising Electro Mobility and building efficiencies further drive electrification and sector couplings as well as digitalization of our infrastructures. The optimal mix of central and decentral power generation as well as the required “smart” electricity grids require a thorough strategic energy system planning. This does not only take into account existing market regulation but must also be open for future innovations. The presentation describes the planning systematic and its realization in projects in various countries.