Grid Flexibility is Crucial to Integrate Renewables in Europe, Finds Frost & Sullivan

LONDON, Jan. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As the concept of energy security grows in importance, so does the need to manage grid flexibility in Europe. Technological investments to create a resilient grid infrastructure have become crucial as grid instability and power failures due to capacity overload plague Eastern Europe, and stand-by demand for intermittent renewable power sources grow in Western Europe.

Key countries such as Germany, Netherlands and the United Kingdom have already defined regulatory frameworks to support energy security through efficient management of electricity grids. However, other countries still have to work out a robust strategy to integrate the large quantities of renewable energy coming on the grids. Details of this and other insights are the focus of Frost & Sullivan's new study, Managing Flexibility in European Electricity Grids.

For complimentary access to more information on this research, please visit: http://corpcom.frost.com/forms/EU_PR_CCarella_MACB-14_30Dec14.

Flexible electricity grids can cope with higher levels of renewable energy. Nevertheless, the volume of power these grids can generate depends on its interconnectivity with other grids. Recognising this, the European market is looking to improve grid interconnectivity and invest in flexible fuel capacity.

"Interconnections help integrate regional markets and boost the reliability of power grids. This is particularly important in increasingly distributed electricity markets supported by multiple power generation sources," said Frost & Sullivan Energy & Environmental Industry Analyst Pritil Gunjan. "They also eliminate the cost of building new power stations by ensuring that excess power generated by renewable energy sources is effectively backed up and used elsewhere."

Nevertheless, the problem of cost sharing still remains. Thus, it is essential for energy providers and end users to be confident of the incentive structures and regulatory policies on grid infrastructure. Cost allocation initiatives and political willingness are also important for successful grid integration.

Ultimately though, distribution system operators must ensure that the demand and supply scenarios are favourably correlated through more interconnections. The onus to integrate renewable energy sources into distribution networks also rests on them.

"In this context, smart grid optimisation appears to be the optimal means to ensure that decentralised energy generation succeeds," noted Gunjan. "Smart grid technology enables the efficient management of energy by utilities and consumers as well as better delivery and consumption of distributed energy. It also helps energy suppliers, who are constantly trying to control the levelised cost of generating electricity from renewables to achieve grid parity, reduce emissions, and decrease the energy generated from fossil fuels."

Managing Flexibility in European Electricity Grids is part of the Energy & Power (http://www.energy.frost.com) Growth Partnership Service program. Frost & Sullivan's related studies include: Global Gas Storage Market, European Power Plant Services Market, Distributed Energy Storage—Market Opportunities, and Procurement Best Practices of Power Generation Utilities. All studies included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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Managing Flexibility in European Electricity Grids
MACB-14

Contact:
Chiara Carella
Corporate Communications – Europe
P: +44 (0) 20 7343 8314
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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan