Federal Environment Minister Juergen Trittin has welcomed the completion of the Grid Study by the German Energy Agency (DENA). Representatives of the wind energy sector and electricity grid operators agreed to adopt the "DENA Grid Study". They agreed on a joint summary of the study. The Grid Study provides information about how the German electricity grid needs to change due to expansion of wind energy, replacement of existing power stations and the liberalized market in electricity, and what this can be expected to cost.
The key findings of this, the first part of the study for the years 2005-2015, are:
- electricity from wind power can be integrated economically into the German electricity grid by 2015, even if there is a very fast expansion in wind energy, provided that there is a moderate expansion of the grid;
- until the necessary expansion of the grid happens, there are transitional technical solutions available;
- no additional conventional power stations need to be built to provide balancing and reserve power;
- other innovative and economical system solutions are to be investigated in a further study.
"With these key findings of the DENA Grid Study, there is no longer any factual basis for pessimism about the expansion of wind energy", Trittin comments about the wrangling over the study. "Although the study unrealistically assumes that the expansion target for renewable energy by 2020 will already be achieved in 2015, it estimates the cost for the growth of wind energy including the balancing and reserve energy as little more than 1 euro per month for the average household".
At the same time, the Minister expressed understanding for the criticism of the study content by the wind power sector. Trittin said: "Due to the deficiencies identified by two independent experts, much detailed research is still needed. Furthermore, the study makes assumptions about the pace of expansion in renewable energy and future increases in fuel prices that will not happen that way in reality."
Further information:Interview: Germany's environment minister Juergen Trittin (Guardian, Tuesday March 15, 2005)