European Generation Mix – High Demand for Flexibility and Storage
- European electricity generation is facing technical challenges
- Expansion of renewables requires integration and grid extension
- New power plants and systems call for high-tech solutions - VGB is the important source of know-how- and innovations for the service of our industry
This year about 1,100 experts from 28 countries participate in the power plant Congress of VGB PowerTech e.V. that is taking place in Berne/Switzerland under the heading “European Genera-tion Mix - High Demand for Flexibility and Storage”. The experts from utilities, manufacturers, service companies, politics, administration and research, who meet at the largest European ex-pert congress for electricity and heat generation, are discussing the challenges to be solved in connection with the technical revolution of the current electricity supply system.
Following the ambitious targets of the European environmental and energy policy, more action has to be taken to reduce CO2 emissions and to increase the share of renewables. Consequently, the construction of wind-, biomass-fired and solar power plants, nuclear power plants and state-of-the-art fossil-fired power stations is being pushed. “Without these projects, climate protection is going to stagnate,“ warns Professor Dr Gerd Jäger, Chairman of the VGB Board of Directors.
“Besides, our supply systems become more complex,” says Profressor Jäger. “New technologies, new sites and more fluctuating generation depending on weather conditions will require a new interplay between generators and consumers if the current quality that is needed, I mean supply security 24 hours at 365 days per year, is to be kept up. This does not only mean more flexible power plants but also consumers have to react with more flexible control through ´smart homes´ and ´smart grids´.“
According to VGB´s tasks, i.e. support of its members concerning all issues related to the construction, operation and maintenance of power plants, this year´s Congress programme focuses on central questions of current power plant engineering and electricity generation. In view of the new natural gas-, hard coal- and lignite-fired power plants, problems will be addressed in connection with the application of innovative high-tech materials which promise higher plant efficiencies, lower fuel consumption and less greenhouse gases.
The second focal point is the increasing importance of renewable sources of energy and the economic and technical challenges that go along with the extension and integration of renewables. “Particularly the integration of fluctuating wind and solar power will require highly flexible power plants and massive investments into grid extension and storage technologies,“ explains Professor Jäger. The experts are presenting technologies and possible options and their potentials like pumped storage plants, compressed air storage and also chemical storage facilities.
In order to take even more account of the meaning of renewables, power plant flexibility and storage technologies, VGB will increase its organisation and its competencies in these fields. Professor Jäger underlined: “VGB will meet the challenges related to the planning, construction and operation of renewables-based, thermal fossil-fired and nuclear power plants with its expertise and its important function as centre of competence and as interface and will accompany the solutions with its know-how and research and development.“
Berne/Switzerland 21 September 2011
Contact:VGB PowerTech e.V. - Press and Information, Christopher Wesselmann
tel.: +49 201 8128-300, mobile: +49 173 93 900 92, e-mail: pr@vgb.org