Intelligent system solutions - a Danish expertise

When wind power penetration reaches a certain level it starts to challenge the capacity and control of the electricity system. Denmark is leading with solutions, which handle these solutions.

 

Expansion of grids

Today, Denmark uses the grid connections to our neighbouring countries extensively to balance wind power. This is natural since Norway and Sweden have large hydro power resources which supplements wind power well. It should be a high priority to expand the major grid connections in Denmark and Europe to reduce the risk of bottlenecks in the system. Special attention should be given to strengthen the international connections in order to avoid obstacles for the free trade in the EU’s internal electricity market.

 

Flexible consumption

However, the export prices are quite low at times. Therefore it is necessary to further develop the national electricity system in Denmark to harvest all the benefits of the wind power expansion. Denmark should lead the way in wind integration by developing intelligent systems solutions which can improve the interaction between wind power and other units in the electricity system.

 

An interesting aspect of this is to increase the flexibility of the electricity consumption resulting in better correspondence between consumption levels and electricity prices. This can be done by implementing semi-intelligent technologies, which for instance starts washing machines and freezers automatically when the price is low.

 

Export potential

Development of intelligent system solutions will optimise the benefits of wind power in Denmark e.g. by decreasing the need for back-up capacity. Knowledge about integration of wind power in the electricity system is also a commercial asset for Denmark. The know-how can be exported to other countries as they in time will go trough the same transition towards a more decentralised electricity system.

 

Related link:

EWEAs rapport 2005: “Large scale integration of wind energy in the European power supply: analysis, issues and recommendations”