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18.04.2013 13:58

Czech Grid to Block German Wind Power Flows

Poland is another country to consider applying restrictions on German wind power excess flows, threatening the security of Germany

AUTHOR: Lyudmila Zlateva

© ceps.cz

In an attempt to prevent blackouts and energy losses Czech grid operator CEPS announced a plan to build transformers meant to tackle excess flows of German wind-produced electricity which threaten neighbouring transmission systems. According to a CEPS supervisory board chairman Tomas Huener, quoted by Reuters, the board has already approved the investment plan for installing phase-shifters and transformers which could be ready by 2016. The transformers would detect only flows coming from Germany.

CEPS has reported several “near critical situations” of the grid, the most notable one being the period Nov-Dec 2011 when wind generation flows from Germany to the Czech Republic hit the staggering 3500 MW, as compared to the usual 1000 MW.

In an attempt to reach a settlement CEPS proposed that Germany pay penalties in case of energy flow excess – an option which has been deterred by the German side. As an alternative the Czech system operator suggested that changes in the German law are made in order to allow the German operator to stop production of renewables when overproduction occurs. This measure was recently used by the Bulgarian government in order to deal with excess production from renewables in times of low energy consumption.

Even though this measure contradicts the efforts of the EU to create a unified European electricity grid, Poland is another country to consider applying restrictions on German wind power excess flows.