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Germany’s first feed-in socket could accelerate the energy transition. The pilot project is intended to connect renewable energy systems to the power grid more quickly, efficiently and in a more planned manner.
Germany is apparently taking a new approach in the fight against climate change: the first nationwide so-called feed-in socket from the LEW distribution network (LVN) was recently put into operation in Bavarian Swabia.
The pilot project is intended to accelerate the energy transition by integrating green energy from decentralized sources into the existing power grid more quickly, efficiently and in a more planned manner.
How does Germany’s first power socket work?
The concept does not describe a socket in the traditional sense, but rather a bundled network connection point in the high and medium voltage network.
The special thing about the idea: The network operator provides feed-in capacities in a forward-looking manner and puts them out to tender instead of planning and carrying out construction work for individual feed-in projects.
This means that systems for generating renewable energy such as solar parks, wind turbines or large battery storage systems do not have to go through lengthy grid connection procedures before they are connected.
Instead, the feed socket creates a central connection option on which the construction work can be aligned. This saves costs, is faster and provides more planning security for everyone.
A mix of different energy sources uses network capacity efficiently
The heart of the feed-in socket is the idea of building network capacity and intelligent management. The feed socket in Bavarian Swabia is a transformer with a maximum output of 80 megavolt amperes.
Several decentralized producers or storage facilities can now connect to this central point. In the case of the Bavarian Balzhausen substation, there are a total of seven projects: three battery storage systems, three photovoltaic parks and a wind turbine.
The total installed output of the connected systems is 126 megawatts, significantly higher than the available transformer output of 80 megavolt amperes. The mix of different energy sources and corresponding connection agreements enable the grid connection capacity to be increased by 60 percent.
Since the wind and PV systems deliver electricity at different times, the actual network capacity of the feed-in socket can be used optimally and the network can be utilized to its maximum capacity.
Advantages of the feed socket
The feed-in socket has several advantages: On the one hand, the grid connection process at LVN as a distribution network operator was optimized and bundled, which saved time and costs.
On the other hand, the systems connected to the feed socket share infrastructure, construction costs and connection costs. The process also creates planning security and reduces costs for the project developers.
Building over the grid connection point ensures that grid capacities are utilized more technically efficiently and additional grid expansion can be avoided. This reduces overall network expansion costs and thus strengthens the business location.
Economic costs for network expansion halved
In the pilot project in Bavaria, the overall economic costs for integrating renewable energy systems and battery storage into the grid were halved.
“The feed-in socket shows how we can overcome the challenges of the energy future in a pragmatic and solution-oriented manner,” explains LEW board member Christian Barr.
Now it’s about being able to implement the guiding principles of the feed-in socket – forward-looking network expansion, tendering of capacities and building over several feed-in sockets – on a large scale and with a fair distribution of costs. Here we must further develop the legal and regulatory framework at the federal level accordingly.
What benefits do electricity customers have from the new concept?
The feed-in socket could also provide noticeable relief for consumers. In order to cover the green electricity demand, larger systems that are further away have to be connected.
This drives up the costs that electricity customers have to bear. By connecting to strategically located power sockets, distances would be shortened.
However, in order to implement the feed-in socket concept on a large scale, the federal government must further develop the legal and regulatory framework.
This includes a legal basis that promotes the forward-looking provision of network capacities by distribution network operators. Network operators also need the opportunity to optimally utilize the capacities created in this way through tendering and mandatory planned development.
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The post Germany’s first feed-in socket aims to bring electricity into the grid more quickly appeared first on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Google News and Flipboard or subscribe to our newsletter UPDATE.
As a Tech Industry expert, I believe that Germany’s first feed-in socket is a step in the right direction towards integrating renewable energy sources into the grid more efficiently. By allowing for faster and more direct access to the grid for electricity generated from renewable sources, this feed-in socket can help reduce the reliance on traditional fossil fuels and accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable energy system.
This innovation is particularly important in light of the growing need for clean energy solutions to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions. By streamlining the process of feeding renewable energy into the grid, Germany’s feed-in socket can help facilitate the widespread adoption of solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources.
Furthermore, this technology has the potential to incentivize individuals and businesses to invest in renewable energy systems by providing them with a more efficient way to sell excess electricity back to the grid. This can help drive further growth in the renewable energy sector and contribute to the overall decarbonization of the energy system.
Overall, Germany’s first feed-in socket is a promising development that has the potential to play a significant role in accelerating the transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy system. It will be interesting to see how this technology evolves and is adopted in other countries around the world.
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