With the exponential growth of the photovoltaic sector, Europe is preparing to meet the demands of a “solar energy revolution”. To enable the expansion of photovoltaic energy in an effective and optimized way, the countries of the European Union bloc seek to structure integration into the grid by evaluating important conditions such as standardized procedures, digitalization and more transparent data exchange.
Electricity networks in Europe were originally designed for centralized power generation, and this fact has caused delays and costs in development in the photovoltaic installations sector.
Currently, Europe and the US have around 1.000 GW of solar projects waiting to be connected, representing a high number of delays in the decarbonization process. Network congestion and delays in licensing network development are causing increased costs for photovoltaic installations.
Rising costs put the competitive advantage of solar energy at risk, in addition to causing a slowdown in the energy transition. To avoid risks to the sector and minimize possible delays in climate goals, Europe seeks to resolve these issues by ing appropriate policies that benefit the transition.
“The future based on renewable energy is here. We need to ensure that system operators and solar generators work together to ensure that citizens can benefit from clean, low-cost renewable energy. Network connections are one of the main issues hindering the rapid green transition. The solutions are there; good planning, investment, flexibility, digitalization, innovation, all of this must be underpinned by political at the highest level,” said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.
EU Member States must plan the restructuring of supply networks in advance, assessing the needs for infrastructure construction, network digitalization as well as the implementation of flexibility. To countries in the energy transition, the European Commission can encourage investments that allow a new European Grid Action Plan to be put into practice.
While member countries' action plans are developed, other measures can be taken for a short-term outcome to optimize grid connections. An example of this is the standardization of connection rules.
Currently, some EU countries, as well as within their territories, differ in grid connection rules, especially at low voltage levels. However, standardizing this process would be essential for accelerating installations. The European Commission envisages the creation of national rulebooks that should contain procedures, detail timelines and specify relevant information.
Hybrid systems can boost the development of the renewable sector. Grid operators should be encouraged to include more hybrid systems, in a combination of energy sources such as solar and storage, or solar and wind. The practice can favor the development of the network and allow for greater penetration of renewable energy and storage.
“The energy system is changing rapidly, so we need a new, forward-looking approach when we modernize and expand our electrical grid. This means deg network plans with a stronger renewable focus, which consider wider time horizons and approach more granular low voltage areas, where the majority of photovoltaic connections occur”, concluded Kristian Ruby, Secretary General of Eurelectric.
