Latest news with #EuropeanNetworkofTransmissionSystemOperatorsforElectricity
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Weather Impacts Operation And Dependence On Renewable Energy
As the demand for renewable energy increases, so do risks for weather impacts and grid stability. ... More Weather impact arbitrage is a strategy to reduce these risks. When 55 million people suddenly lost power in Spain and Portugal in late April, many instinctively assumed the outage must have been caused by the weather. It made sense. Extreme weather events can significantly disrupt renewable energy infrastructures – and the Iberian peninsula's grid is 80% powered by renewables. Turns out the weather wasn't the culprit this time. Conditions were pristine on April 28 – balmy temperatures, no precipitation – and the Iberian grid was back up and running by the next morning. In fact, some groups are saying the nice weather contributed to an overabundance of renewable energy causing line congestion and ultimately system instability. A month later, people are still debating the cause of the worst European outage in recent memory. A joint expert panel established by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity has launched an investigation into the root cause. Here in the U.S., solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower and other renewable sources are becoming important parts of more energy conversations. Taken all together, these sources accounted for about 90% of the U.S.'s new installed capacity in 2024, according to a report by the World Resources Institute. The same report notes that renewables make up 30% of the country's large-scale power generating capacity and supply nearly 25% of all electricity. Given renewables' prospects, operators are taking more interest in how weather will affect the energy sources' future. Renewables, of course, depend on weather to physically generate power. Their performance also depends heavily on operators' ability to protect energy sources from all kinds of weather. For example, hydroelectric plants are affected by intense droughts that reduce water availability or heavy rainfall can overwhelm systems. Heavy gusts of wind can damage wind turbine blades and put mechanical stress on turbine systems and severe weather make up 80% of solar farm insurance claims. Even small weather events can progressively reduce solar output by 1% annually according to a 2024 National Renewable Energy Laboratory on weather and solar system performance. But rather than viewing weather fluctuations solely as operational risks to be mitigated, sophisticated operators can use advanced weather intelligence to leverage weather impact arbitrage. Arbitrage in the traditional sense is a trading strategy where investors take advantage of price discrepancies for the same asset in different markets. Cross-regional energy trading exemplifies this approach, as operators with superior weather intelligence can anticipate production surges or deficits across different regions before they're reflected in market prices. My position for weather impact arbitrage involves capitalizing on discrepancies but in broader terms. It is leveraging energy assets and operations to capitalize on weather patterns across different geographies and timeframes. By understanding weather variations with greater precision, energy operators can make more informed profitable decisions about when to generate, store or consume energy, and optimize operations for time, financial or efficiency savings. Here are a few of many examples of how weather impact arbitrage would benefit the energy industry. Consider strategic maintenance scheduling that moves beyond simply avoiding severe weather to identifying periods when the revenue opportunity cost is lowest based on long-term weather pattern analysis. Or routine work that is delayed or rescheduled based on weather intelligence. For example, using wildfire forecasting to plan or revise work in an area with a high probability of ignition could help prevent catastrophic physical and financial outcomes. Energy scheduling using weather intelligence can optimize output. For example, through high-resolution forecasts of solar irradiance, operators can anticipate fluctuations in sunlight caused by cloud cover, storms, or atmospheric haze. With granular forecasting, they can protect assets during a severe weather event in a specific area of the field for the necessary time to maximize energy generation. This foresight allows them to better manage energy storage systems and optimize production. Excess renewable energy, such as wind and solar, can cause grid congestion. This is one of the causes considered for the Spain and Portugal outage. When this happens, transmission operators will enact dispatch down or curtailment measures. Dispatch down events can cause energy prices to plummet during extreme oversupply conditions. Grid operators must also pay the renewable energy provider a downward dispatch fee that can cost thousands of dollars per megawatt per hour. Energy operators who use a combination of seasonal forecasts, predictive and real-time forecasts have better insights and can strategically plan for dispatch down probabilities. Dynamic line rating for grid balancing in increasingly becoming a global strategy for grid stability. In the U.S. the upcoming regulation FERC 881 addresses the continuing influence of weather on transmission line capacity for better dynamic and responsive line capacity management. Current calculations without DLR are based on conservative estimates of worst-case weather conditions and do not adjust in real-time to actual weather conditions. Conversely, hot conditions limit the ability to dissipate heat, increasing the risk of overheating, sagging, and potential damage to the lines. Both scenarios affect market prices, grid stability and optimizing renewable integration. Battery storage operators can develop algorithms that charge and discharge based not just on price signals but on proprietary weather forecasts that predict price movements before they occur. Large energy consumers with flexible loads could time their consumption based on weather forecasts, reducing usage during weather-induced supply constraints and increasing it during weather-driven production surges. Weather Impact arbitrage depends on utilizing weather intelligence including hyperlocal weather forecasting capabilities with greater accuracy and longer lead times than traditional models. This also requires the integration of weather intelligence directly into existing systems with other data sources, such as pricing, asset locations, service areas and operations. Ensemble forecasts informed by advanced algorithms such as AI and machine learning further leverage weather arbitrage strategies. It is time to stop viewing the weather only as a risk. Weather impact arbitrage could fundamentally transform renewable energy economics by positioning weather intelligence not as a defensive tool but as a source of competitive advantage and value creation in an increasingly weather-dependent energy landscape.
Euronews
15-05-2025
- Science
- Euronews
Spain identifies power failure 'ground zero' in Iberian blackout probe
Spain's investigation into the blackout that affected the Iberian Peninsula in late April revealed initial power generation failures in three Spanish provinces — Granada, Badajoz, and Seville, Minister for Ecological Transition Sara Aagesen told the Spanish Congress of Deputies on Wednesday. The substation in Granada was ground zero, and the power failure caused a loss of 2.2 gigawatts of electricity, causing a chain of grid disconnections. The cause of the substations' failures remains unknown at this time. During her speech at the plenary session, Aagesen said that the ongoing investigation has ruled out several hypotheses, including that the massive outage that started on 28 April was due to coverage, backup, or network size. The government is acting seriously to get to the bottom of it, Aagesen reiterated. "The government is working with rigour and not making hypotheses, because that is what the Spanish people deserve. Rigour and truth," she explained. The findings are the first clear conclusions to be made public after more than two weeks since the blackout that saw Spain and Portugal grind to a halt. Aagesen said this remains "an extremely complex investigation" because "millions of bits of data" are being analysed. At the same time, the energy minister pointed out that, according to the data available, half an hour before the blackout, "two oscillations in the Iberian system with the rest of the European continent" were recorded. This observation coincides with preliminary reports from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), which pointed to "two periods of power and frequency swings in the synchronous area of continental Europe." Aagesen has assured that the government will continue "relentlessly" to "identify the causes" of this "extremely complex" incident, which "does not come with simple explanations".
Euronews
29-04-2025
- Euronews
How engineers managed to get the power back on after Spain and Portugal's mass outage
ADVERTISEMENT States of emergency throughout Spain and Portugal are being lifted on Tuesday, except in Valencia, as the Iberian Peninsula starts to regain power after an unprecedented outage on Monday. The outage hit Spain, Portugal, and parts of France just after noon on Monday, according to data from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-e). Dan Jorgensen, the EU Commissioner for energy and housing, said on X on Tuesday morning that the energy situation in Spain and Portugal is back to normal, noting that this incident was "the most severe for almost two decades in Europe". Related What could have caused the major power outage in Spain and Portugal? Experts weigh in While investigators are still trying to figure out the cause of the mass blackout, experts say restarting the grid after an outage is tricky and would have to strike a good balance or risk bringing about another. So, how does the re-energising process work, and when can those living in the Iberian Peninsula expect full power to come back? 'Suddenly there's a flurry of alarms' The transmission grid is the "backbone" of a country's electricity system, according to Spain's grid operator Red Electrica. It connects power generation stations to large consumers, distribution points, and other national energy production. The grid is needed to transmit the energy created by electricity generation plants from location to location 'efficiently and safely'. Spain's transmission grid has over 45,000 km of high-voltage line circuits, more than 700 substations, 600 bays, and over 200 transformers. Portugal's grid, although smaller, has 9,661 km of circuits, and roughly 77 per cent of its energy produced on Tuesday was from renewables like solar and wind, according to data from Portuguese energy company, Redes Energeticas Nacionais (REN). Related Europe's 'wake up call': What lessons can be learned from Spain and Portugal's power outage? Paul Cuffe, an assistant professor of electrical and electronic engineering at the University of College Dublin, said power grids are often synchronised or interconnected, which means that if "something untoward were to happen with the generator in Madrid, it can immediately be felt in Barcelona or Lisbon," he told Euronews Next. System operators that control the power grid are looking to maintain the balance between how much power the grid supplies and how much is being consumed, he said. To hit that balance, operators stay around the 50 hertz mark, he continued. The metric can tick slightly up or down without causing a risk of a blackout. The failure of the Iberian grid likely happened quickly and unexpectedly, he said. "Suddenly there's a flurry of alarms, [a system operator] blinks and looks at the display, where, for the last five years, there's been no hint of trouble… and [thinks] what on Earth was that?" Cuffe said. Related Amid major outage, health workers in Spain and Portugal adapted to provide urgent care without power A balancing act After a blackout, the challenge of getting the grid back online starts. ADVERTISEMENT A spokesperson for Eurelectric, the sector association that represents Europe's energy industry, said that the grid has to do what's called a "black start," where it uses "generation assets that don't require grid electricity to be started" to get the power back on. In the case of the Iberian blackout, the association's spokesperson continued, this came in the form of hydropower, but can also be done with diesel or gas. The electricity from these alternative sources is then fed into the grid and used to bring essential services, like hospitals or defense sites, back online. From there, the energy is "slowly ramped up" and is 'carefully matched against additional demand brought onto the system,' Eurelectric continued. ADVERTISEMENT "If the balancing is not nearly perfect, it can cause another outage". The role of renewables In 2024, Red Eléctrica announced that 56 per cent of Spain's power was produced by renewable energy. The grid operator also confirmed on April 16 this year that they hit 100 per cent renewable energy supply. On Tuesday, data from REN showed that at 6 pm CET, 77 per cent of the energy generated in Portugal was from renewables. ADVERTISEMENT The introduction of renewables like solar and wind to the grid, coupled with new consumption patterns and big consumers, makes the grid system more 'complex' to balance, REN said. ENTSO-e warned earlier this month that solar energy could be overproduced as the good weather starts to come. To mitigate this, ENTSO-e said that transmission system operators would be setting up dedicated specialty teams to manage the power supply, through more flexibility with resources and information sharing over borders. Euronews Next reached out to Spain's Red Electrica and REN to ask about what preparations were taken in response to ENTSO-e's warning, but did not receive an immediate reply. ADVERTISEMENT Cuffe said that while the role of renewables is "relevant," he cautions that power grids have failed long before the inclusion of these new types of energy. "It would be wrong to jump the gun. But it would [also] be wrong for me to take an overly defensive position for how dare they besmirch renewable energy," he said. "That grid was at a very high renewable penetration, and that could be relevant". What happens next? Eurelectric said that as the power comes back, a safety check needs to be done to make sure nothing along the grid's power line was damaged or could lead to a further blackout. ADVERTISEMENT Euronews Next also asked Red Electrica and REN whether these safety checks have taken place, but did not receive an immediate reply. The grid will eventually come back to normal rates of power, Eurelectric said, and the time it will take depends on the severity and size of the outage. There's still other investigations to come. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his Portuguese counterpart, Luis Montenegro, have asked the European Commission to deliver an independent report about the cause of Monday's blackout. ADVERTISEMENT A Commission official told Euronews that it is not up to them to conduct the investigation. It will be led by a transmission system operator (TSO) from a member state that isn't connected to the incident and will have members from Spain, Portugal, and France on a panel to contribute their expertise. The panel will have up to six months to deliver a fact-finding report about the blackout that will explain the causes of the incident and a series of recommendations. Luis Calama, a judge on Spain's National Court, said that he will launch a preliminary investigation into whether the blackout may have been a cyberattack, despite many refutals by various government leaders that that is not the case.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany advised to split power market to reflect regional cost differences
Germany should contemplate dividing its electricity market into distinct five price zones to more accurately represent varying regional costs, according to a report by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). The current unified power market zone, inclusive of Luxembourg, faces grid congestion and disparities in renewable energy distribution, prompting the recommendation. ENTSO-E's examination of different scenarios for segmenting Germany's market indicated that all options could be economically advantageous. A division into five bidding zones could be the most economically efficient strategy, estimated to cost between €251m ($285.5m) and €339m for 2025. This segmentation could potentially reduce prices in the northern regions, where renewable energy is plentiful, but might increase costs in southern areas,where industrial consumption is higher, according to a Reuters report. The debate over the need for German market segmentation has affected cross-border infrastructure projects. Sweden, which has split its electricity market into four zones, has stated that it will withhold approval for a new power cable to Germany unless the latter restructures its market. EU member states have a six-month window to deliberate on ENTSO-E's findings, after which the European Commission may propose amendments to the bidding zones if a consensus is not reached. Contrary to ENTSO-E's recommendations, Germany's newly formed coalition government has expressed opposition to the market split, fearing it could lead to price hikes in the south, affecting industrial activity. Supporting the government's position, Germany's primary transmission operators – 50hertz, Amprion, TenneT and TransnetBW – have criticised the report for its reliance on outdated data and minimal projected benefits when compared to the overall system costs. They warned that a market division could diminish market liquidity and escalate expenses. In April 2025, Germany's energy grid regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur, proposed a plan that could lead to savings of €1.5bn ($1.71bn) for power customers from 2026 to 2028 by removing payments to small conventional power generation units "Germany advised to split power market to reflect regional cost differences" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Iraqi News
26-03-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Increased Turkish electricity exports to Iraq face challenges
Baghdad ( – At the time the United States decided not to extend the waiver it had given to Iraq to cover energy imports from Iran, Iraq's plans to boost Turkish energy supplies may not be successful until next summer, which might worsen Baghdad's situation. The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-e) confirmed that it may take several months for Turkish energy to begin flowing to Iraq, according to Attaqa News. After the ENTSO-e gives its approval, Ankara plans to boost Turkish electricity exports to Iraq by about 300 megawatts. In mid-March, during a meeting with the Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, stated that the Iraq-Turkey electrical interconnection project would raise electricity supplies to Iraq to 600 megawatts in the upcoming months, according to a statement cited by the Iraqi News Agency (INA). Bayraktar also expressed his country's interest in strengthening cooperation with Iraq in several areas, especially the energy sector. Last July, the Turkish and Iraqi governments successfully established an electrical interconnection line that currently provides Iraq with 300 megawatts of electricity. The Iraqi government is apparently attempting to expand its electricity imports from neighboring Turkey following statements made by Iraqi officials last week that the United States' sanctions waiver for the import of Iranian electrical power has been canceled. Additionally, the spokesperson of the US Department of State, Tammy Bruce, said earlier in March that the US administration is urging the Iraqi government to eliminate its dependence on Iranian sources of energy as soon as possible.
