The wish for clarity and planning security on the path to a climate-neutral energy future
Dr Oliver Then
Christmas, the festival of love and peace, is just around the corner. It is now up to each of us to give the gift of love. Unfortunately, the situation with peace looks worse in view of the two terrible war and crisis zones on Europe’s doorstep. At least it is worth noting that the energy industry, in close co-operation with politics and society, has made a great effort to secure Europe’s energy supply last winter and, in all likelihood, in the coming winter as well. This has made it clear what can be achieved by joining forces. And this thought leads to the core of this editorial: Christmas, the time of wishes.
From our industry’s perspective, the most important wish has remained the same for years: Clarity and planning security through reliable political framework conditions. At a European level, we – or rather, we – have been following the Commission’s tireless regulatory efforts: strategically, via the Green Deal and its most important sub-projects FitFor55 and RePowerEU; operationally, via the reorganisation of CO2 certificate trade or the updates to the grid codes, the Water Framework Directive or the Industrial Emissions Directive, for example. The vgbe has been working successfully and in a spirit of trust with our umbrella organisations Eurelectric and BDEW for many years to implement the above-mentioned wishes.
Renewable energy and new, green base load –Transformation and future at LEAG
Philipp Nellessen and Thomas Hörtinger
From an eastern German mining region to an extraordinary cluster for green energy in Germany – LEAG wants to achieve this 180-degree turnaround with the GigawattFactory concept in Lusatia. By 2030, the traditional lignite mining region is to be transformed into the largest centre for renewable energies in Germany. The potential of this transformation is as complex as it is unique: a new quality of sustainable and secure energy supply, a booster for the economic development of the region and a blueprint for the successful transformation of coal regions around the world – these are the opportunities offered by the GigawattFactory.
Forecasts and scenarios for global energy supply up to 2050 – synopsis of the approaches and results of studies published in 2023
Hans-Wilhelm Schiffer
Various institutions regularly publish studies on the prospects for global energy supply. These include government-backed international organizations, energy companies, consulting firms and scientific institutes. When it comes to the future paths presented, a distinction must be made between forecasts and scenarios. The different methodological approaches used are outlined and the used approaches are categorized. Against the background of developments over the past decades, the quantitative results achieved in the studies on the development of primary energy consumption and electricity generation up to 2050 – differentiated according to energy sources – are presented. This is done by explaining existing similarities and differences. In a conclusion, messages are drawn that can be derived from the analyzes – especially with a view to compliance with the climate goals.
The impact of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) on the power system stability – The renaissance of synchronous condensers
Robert Neumann, Gerfried Maier, Serdar Kadam and Werner Ladstätter
The energy transition, i.e. the strategic change from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, entails a fundamental transformation of the transmission and distribution grids. The electric power system is in transition which shifts from a rotating mass-dominated system to a power converter-dominated system. Without the appropriate measures, this will have a negative impact on power system stability. This report describes the implications of the transformation of the electric power system on voltage stability and frequency stability, it compares Synchronous Condensers, SVCs (static VAR compensation) and static synchronous compensators with regard to the different grid needs. SynCons, which have been used for reactive power compensation since the early 20th century, and have been replaced by other technologies in the meantime, are experiencing a renaissance in transmission and distribution grids.
Maintenance of power plants: Risk and insurance management
Michael Härig
In the case of complex technical systems, insurance policies must fulfil very special conditions so that the necessary compensation can be paid in the event of damage. Regardless of whether the damage occurred during operation or was discovered during the overhaul, or was only caused by the overhaul or when the plant was recommissioned after an overhaul.
The global market for industrial insurance, which has hardened over the past few years, characterises the way insurers deal with these issues. Current developments in the energy sector must also be taken into account when placing insurance policies. With targeted risk and insurance management, it is still possible to obtain insurance cover on favourable terms.
Digital twin – From prototype to final application
Thomas Will and Mojtaba Mahmoodan
Digital twins of complex systems or system components are now established tools for process monitoring and optimisation. In the architecture of such a twin, a distinction can be made between online and offline on the one hand and between remote and on-site on the other. This results in four possible combinations of how such a twin can be designed and utilised. The article explains and discusses these options with their specific advantages and disadvantages. All options are based on the same parameterised model of the steam generator and the same program code for the thermodynamic calculation. The options are described in detail using two case studies for digital twins of steam generators. The references both relate to coal-fired power plants. The prospect for a growing market lies in the transfer of the technology to other types of plant. All types of energy recovery from waste or chemical plants promise high potential.
Modifications and modernisation measures for steam turbines in times of energy transition
Stephan Schwab and Tobias Fröse
The complex demands placed on industrial steam turbines as a result of the changing energy market require modifications and modernisation measures to ensure efficient and customer-specific operation. The procedure for such modernisation measures is explained in this article using two project examples. The feasibility study, the evaluation of the planned modernisation measures and the final implementation of the modifications are highlighted. For the feasibility study, the steam turbine is analysed, the design of the conversion measures and the modifications to the turbine control system as well as the implementation of the necessary control devices are carried out. The data required to carry out this study is very elementary and gives the customer a favourable opportunity to subsequently use the results of this study as a basis for further process evaluation within a short period of time. By submitting a technical and commercial assessment of the scope of the feasibility study, the operator can now evaluate the realisation.
Increased utilisation thanks to predictive maintenance
Rudolf Tanner
Predictive maintenance (PM) has become much more important in the last two years because supply chains have been disrupted. There are various options for safeguarding production, but each has its price! Alternatively, plant operators can use monitoring systems that assess the condition of critical components such as bearings or gears. This article proposes a possible measure for defect-based trend curves and shows practical examples that have contributed to extending the service life of rotating machinery.
Challenges and solutions in operation: Optimisation-based predictive operational control of generation units and controllable consumers
Markus Gölles, Astrid Leitner, Christine Mair, Andreas Moser, Daniel Muschick, Valentin Kaisermayer, Mathias Schwendt and Daria Shabatska
A sustainable energy supply can only be achieved through a flexible, cross-sectoral energy system. The appropriate consideration of volatile generation units is particularly important here. Due to the increasing coupling of the various sectors, the heating sector and district heating in particular will continue to gain in importance. Optimisation-based control methods represent a promising, systematic approach for the operation of the resulting, increasingly complex systems, which has become established in the operational control of generation plants in the electricity sector. In the heating sector and especially in future systems with strong sector coupling, however, some additional specific challenges arise. In this article, these challenges are described and a modular, model-predictive dispatch control system is presented and analysed using two exemplary demonstrators.
Accelerating emission control at coal-fired power plants in India
Lesley Sloss, Sanjeev K Kanchan and Wojciech Jozewicz
The coal-fired power sector is one of India’s most polluting industrial sectors – coal-fired power plants contributed 60 % of the total particulate matter (PM), 45 % of the total SO2, 30 % of the total NOx, and more than 80% of the total mercury emissions from all industrial sectors in the country in 2020. In response to ongoing environmental concerns, the Indian government has set new emission limits for PM, SO2, NOx and mercury from coal plants. This report discusses the challenges faced by India and the reasons why compliance is slow. This report is intended to assist stakeholders in the implementation of policies in India. Once informed about the best solutions, both policy- and technology-wise, stakeholders can then conduct true cost-benefit analyses and best describe how their needs create the market for goods and services in India.
Editorial
Dr Oliver Then
Executive Managing Director
vgbe energy, Essen, Germany
The wish for clarity and planning security on the path to a climate-neutral energy future
Dear readers of the vgbe energy journal, dear members of the association,
Christmas, the festival of love and peace, is just around the corner. It is now up to each of us to give the gift of love. Unfortunately, the situation with peace looks worse in view of the two terrible war and crisis zones on Europe’s doorstep. At least it is worth noting that the energy industry, in close co-operation with politics and society, has made a great effort to secure Europe’s energy supply last winter and, in all likelihood, in the coming winter as well. This has made it clear what can be achieved by joining forces. And this thought leads to the core of this editorial: Christmas, the time of wishes.
From our industry’s perspective, the most important wish has remained the same for years: Clarity and planning security through reliable political framework conditions. At a European level, we – or rather, we – have been following the Commission’s tireless regulatory efforts: strategically, via the Green Deal and its most important sub-projects FitFor55 and RePowerEU; operationally, via the reorganisation of CO2 certificate trade or the updates to the grid codes, the Water Framework Directive or the Industrial Emissions Directive, for example. The vgbe has been working successfully and in a spirit of trust with our umbrella organisations Eurelectric and BDEW for many years to implement the above-mentioned wishes.
This also applies to matters that need to be regulated at national level. For months, the energy sector in Germany, but also in our neighbouring countries, has been eagerly awaiting (for good reason) the so-called “power plant strategy” of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK). Expectations were last raised at the vgbe Congress in Berlin in September, when the head of department Dr Phillipp Steinberg from the BMWK held out the prospect of a draft in late autumn. But now, in view of the budget crisis and the uncertainties surrounding the Climate and Transformation Fund (KTF), hopes of a quick solution are fading.
The budget crisis, triggered by the budget judgement of the Federal Constitutional Court, which declared the transfer of 60 billion euros to the KTF unconstitutional, has forced the Ministry of Economic Affairs to pause the advancement of the power plant strategy in the short term. The clarification of relevant issues relating to the KTF now takes priority. Despite this postponement, the Ministry emphasises that the strategy will continue to be pursued – a gentle sign of hope for the energy sector.
The introduction of the power plant strategy is of central importance for the path to a climate-neutral electricity system. The planned hydrogen-capable gas-fired power plants are intended to build a bridge and supplement renewable energies, especially at times when wind and sun do not provide sufficient energy. In addition to other flexibility options in the energy system (e.g. electricity imports, energy storage, consumption control), a total of between 65 and 120 GW is required for this, depending on the cited study. As a first step, the German government is therefore planning an expansion of 20 to 40 GW by 2030 or 2035, with tenders actually starting in 2024. However, this is not only a technological challenge, but also a logistical one.
The time pressure for the tenders for the new gas-fired power plants is increasing. Experts from our member companies and the association itself are warning of bottlenecks in construction and emphasising the need to act in good time to ensure security of supply after 2030. Experience shows that the realisation of such projects will take up to 6 years. A possible delay will also jeopardise the policy of bringing forward the coal phase-out to the early 2030s, which is still being pursued by politicians. No coal phase-out without gas-fired power plants.
The industry needs a clear framework conditions in order to be able to make sustainable investments. Although new gas-fired power plants that can be converted to hydrogen play an important role in stabilising the electricity grid and are intended to replace coal-fired power plants in the long term, their economic viability cannot be guaranteed due to the existing market design. Without targeted subsidies, no investor will be prepared to finance the construction of these back-up power plants. And this does not even take into account when and in what quantities green hydrogen will be available for the operation of these plants.
Promising models for funding have already been presented that do not require public funding. The costs are to be financed via the grid fees, for example, by providing guaranteed remuneration at the time of investment. This approach could offer investors the security they need and incentivise them to build power plants where they are most urgently needed. However, discrepancies between the German government’s ideas and the EU’s requirements still need to be overcome.
Time is pressing and the energy sector needs clear signals and support from the political side. The power plant strategy must not be put on the back burner any longer if the energy transition is to achieve its goals. Investment security, clear funding mechanisms and efficient coordination with European partners are essential in order to set the course for a sustainable and climate-neutral energy future.
To conclude my Christmas wish list, I would like to wish you and your families a peaceful and blessed Christmas and all the best for the coming year, also on behalf of the staff of vgbe energy e.V. and vgbe energy service Gmbh.