FROM INSIGHT TO IMPACT
In order to be able to successfully implement the Energy Strategy 2050, a new energy system based on several implementation stages is required.
- the political mandate
- a regulatory model with incentives for promotion and investment
- the expansion of different, renewable technologies
- the broad storage of renewable energy
- the use of smart technologies that enable intelligent networks (smart grids, microgrids) and interfaces from the energy market to building technology (smart building technology) and mobility (bi-directional e-charging).
Cooperation & coupling of relevant sectors
On the one hand, the decarbonization of the overall energy system requires the interaction of all the actors and stakeholder groups from the previously mentioned strata. On the other hand, and this depends on the subject, the marriage of the relevant sectors such as electricity, heat and mobility. However, the ultimate goal of operating energy self-sufficient trades and systems must not come at the expense of security of supply (replacement of nuclear power, winter gap). It must be achieved in parallel and in the further implementation, application and acceptance of, for example, “semi-clean” gas-fired combined-cycle power plants as reserve power plants.
The magic word self-sufficiency - not magic
The pursuit of self-sufficiency has its pitfalls, not only technological but also in relation to the different interests of individual stakeholder groups (energy service providers versus prosumers). These relate to the generation of clean energy, the consumption algorithms and the pricing of energy purchases or feed-in tariffs. The fact is that both stakeholders have a common interest in the course of an increased expansion of photovoltaic systems. On the one hand, the security of supply must be guaranteed by operating different smart networks, while on the other hand, the grid stability of the power grid must be ensured by regulating excess solar power to be fed into it.
Approaches to solutions - with a view to the whole.
In order to achieve the maximum degree of self-sufficiency, the following technological solutions and regulatory requirements are required:
- Energy service providers need incentives to receive adequate compensation for the security of supply in the renewable electricity mix (market premium versus investment contributions).
- Investors need competitive feed-in tariffs that are valid over a longer period of time so that even larger photovoltaic systems can be operated profitably in the long term. This is a basic requirement for a wide range of potential utilization of all possible module areas.
- With regard to the various renewable technologies, the expansion of storage capacities must be promoted in a targeted manner.
- Alternative storage systems that contribute to general decarbonization must be treated on an equal footing with conventional, traditional pumped storage systems in terms of network charges.
- Dynamic network tariffs tailored to bottlenecks are required, which ensure the flexible integration of storage media and stabilize them in a way that is gentle on the network.
- Microgrids should increasingly come into play in the form of area development with prosumers of the type EV, EVG, ZEV and industry. The requirements for interfaces, self-consumption optimization and load management for the self-sufficient island network that is to be operated independently of the higher-level power grid must be developed and solved.
- Parallel to the microgrids, intelligent, autonomous, higher-level power grids are required in the form of smart grids that can flexibly influence changing requirements (weather and user influences) on electricity production and electricity distribution.
- The addition and expansion of photovoltaic systems in trades must be geared and dimensioned more according to the solar potential of the building (roof and facade) instead of self-consumption criteria.
- Photovoltaic systems must increasingly be optimized through good dimensioning of the module field (the larger the better) and the design of the inverter capacity, based on the house connection power and the self-consumption behavior of the users. In this way, the feed-in can be smoothed and the storable energy can be increased.
- The use of additional, new technologies in combination with photovoltaics must be promoted, e.g. fuel cell heating with photovoltaics in combination with battery storage for electricity (short-term storage) and hydrogen storage (long-term storage) and electrolyser (solar hydrogen storage).
- The promotion of stationary storage systems in the industrial sector as modern storage solutions, based on reactivated old vehicle batteries, must be promoted.
- A promotion and integration of unidirectional and bidirectional e-charging with electric vehicles to stabilize the power grid in times of increased energy demand (vehicle-to-grid, vehicle-to-home) has to be undertaken.
