GRIDTECH - Impact Assessment of new technologies to Foster reselectricity integration into the European Transmission System

DESCRIPTION
The methodology applied in GridTech is an in-depth analysis of the cost and benefits of the implementation of new technologies into the European transmission system, to be developed in 7 target countries of strategic importance
Germany: currently the European leader on installed wind capacity (also PV).
Spain: One of the highest installed wind capacities in Europe and high potential of solar-CSP.
Italy: High relevance in terms of better transmission interconnection to Northern Africa and the Western Balkan countries.
The Netherlands: high wind resource potentials. Plays a considerable role in the design of the future offshore-grid in the North Sea.
Ireland: high wind potentials. Lack of adequate interconnection (island situation)
Bulgaria: Strategic importance to balance the electricity systems in the South-East of Europe.
Austria: High shares/potentials on Pumped-Hydro Storage power which can be connected with the high wind potentials of northern Europe and the high solar-CSP potentials of southern Europe.
OBJECTIVES
The project will address the following questions, for the short and long term:
- Major non-technical shortcomings/barriers of the current market regulations, and transmission grid planning and operation practises for market-compatible RES-Electricity grid and market integration.
- Level of sustainable penetration of firm and variable/intermittent RES-Electricity generation that the European electricity system can bear, towards more controllability/flexibility.
- Highest improvement in social welfare from a perfect controllability of the European transmission networks.
- Best method to present and disseminate the essential results, policy recommendations and actions plans across Europe.
CIRCE'S ROLE
- The cost/benefits of the implementation of new technologies into the European transmission system
- And the actions needed to exploit the full potential of those benefits in order to foster the achievement of the EU2020 RES-Electricity targets and beyond