Germany is turning to offshore wind power to stabilize grid fluctuations for the first time, in what’s being called a “milestone” for the country’s energy transition. “Offshore wind turbines are among the most reliable renewable power technologies and have become economically competitive system stabilizers, which had previously been the domain of conventional power plants,” said Jörg Kubitza, head of Danish energy company Ørsted, which owns the Borkum Riffgrund 1 wind farm that will feed the grid. “Offshore wind power is a foundation of Germany’s energy transition and contributes to supply security at many levels,” Kubitza added. Riffgrund 1 will be a secondary reserve, providing “control power” to the grid. “Control power is needed as a reserve that balances out the fluctuations in the electricity grid, which may occur due to a sudden drop in demand or a change in the weather leading to higher production from wind and solar,” explains RenewEconomy, adding that the wind farm’s available control power can be adjusted and will respond to variable weather conditions.
Energy Mix 19th June 2022 read more »