Grid integration

Too much renewables on Czech grid?

On Tuesday, the Czech grid operator published a complaint about "uncontrolled power flows" related to renewable power on the German grid. The country is not alone in its concerns.

Add the Czech Republic to the list of Germany's neighbors who are complaining about the uncontrollability of Power crossing the border. In a press release (PDF), CEPS – the country's sole grid operator – listed five reasons why the amount of power crossing international lines had increased from late November to mid-December to around 3,500 MW, whereas 1,000 MW would have been more common. Three of those reasons pertain to Germany:

• "Excessive output" from wind farms in northern Germany
• The shutdown of eight of Germany's 17 nuclear plants in the spring
• And the sudden increase in photovoltaic capacity.

December was indeed a record month for German wind power, which posted more megawatt-hours than ever before in a single month. Likewise, Germany has installed roughly 15 gigawatts of PV over the past 24 months. CESP says that its transmission networks must be expanded as quickly as possible to avoid turbulence on the grid.

As Renewables International reported at the end of December, complaints about green power from Germany are becoming more common among Germany's neighbors, at least to the east. (Craig Morris)