Europe Can Unlock 25 GW of Clean Power by Using Existing Grid Connections

Europe can unlock 25 GW of clean power by using existing grid connections. According to a new report by Ember, adding wind and solar energy to existing hydroelectric power plants in seven European Union countries can provide an additional 25 GW of clean energy without requiring extra grid capacity.

Ember's Energy Infrastructure Lead Elisabeth Cremona said, "If clean electrons get stuck in connection queues, political targets mean nothing." "For countries experiencing grid congestion, hybridization offers an immediate, zero-intrusion solution."

Hybridization, often overlooked as a way to make better use of grid infrastructure, involves combining wind, solar, and storage technologies behind a single grid connection. In Europe, hydroelectric power plants appear particularly well-suited for hybridization, as much of their grid capacity goes unused during the day.

Cremona said, "By adding wind or solar to the same connection point as a hydroelectric plant, developers can get online faster, and operators can use the grid infrastructure more efficiently - on average, doubling its use - and stay within export limits."

In Austria, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Spain - the European Union's major hydroelectric markets - hybridization can integrate 18% of the expected new renewable energy sources by 2030 without requiring extra grid capacity.

In the seven markets examined, only Portugal and Spain have rules for hybrid projects, while the others lack clear regulatory frameworks. This fragmentation comes as governments face increasing pressure to accelerate renewable energy distribution and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Cremona said, "Grid scarcity requires immediate solutions. National laws can remove barriers to renewable energy distribution and make better use of existing infrastructure by prioritizing and fast-tracking hybrid project approvals."

Ember is an independent energy think tank that aims to accelerate the clean energy transition with data and policy. It creates targeted data insights to urgently change the world towards a clean, electrified energy future.

Source: CleanTechnica