Expansion of European Electricity Grids Essential for Increased Integration of Renewable Energy Sources

Presentation of the Results of Regional Studies Into the Development of Energy Systems in Europe

BERLIN, August 1, 2010 - Europe's electricity grids must be massively expanded to achieve
integration of large shares of renewable energy. For instance, by 2050,
Italy's electricity grids must be expanded by 170 percent over present levels
so that power can be transmitted from future renewable power generation sites
in the south to the centres of demand in northern Italy. This is just one
example of the results from the regional studies of the EU project SUSPLAN,
which have now been presented. The project is investigating energy systems in
nine European regions up to 2050 with four different scenarios for
large-scale integration of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency
beyond current EU targets. The Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) - the
German Energy Agency - is one of 16 SUSPLAN project partners from 12
countries.

While the results of the studies clearly show that massive long term
expansion of electricity grids is necessary in many European regions, the
situation with gas grids is quite different: Energy-efficient homes are
capable of bringing about a distinct reduction in demand for heating and thus
also for gas. This would indicate that no major expansion of gas grids is
required. For example in Spain, household gas demand will be substantially
lower than anticipated from 2020. No further expansion of gas infrastructure
will therefore be required after 2020. The situation is similar in Austria,
where declining household gas demand will mean that no expansion of gas
infrastructure will be required after 2030.

Developing energy systems is a long-term process. This is why SUSPLAN
project partners are developing appropriate strategies for the 2030 to 2050
period. By taking an integrated approach, electricity, gas and heat
infrastructure are treated holistically. If large amounts of renewable
resources are to be integrated by 2050, it is necessary to begin reorganising
energy systems today. The regional case studies are just one way in which
SUSPLAN is showing the way forward. In the following, also trans-national
infrastructures for electricity and gas are analysed. All results of the EU
project SUSPLAN will be presented at an international conference on December
7th in Berlin.

Detailed information on the conference and the SUSPLAN results may be
found at www.susplan.eu.

Media contact:

Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) - German Energy Agency, Nadia Grimm,
Chausseestrasse 128a, 10115 Berlin .

Tel.: +49(0)30-72-61-65-804, Fax: +49(0)30-72-61-65-699,
E-mail: grimm@dena.de .

Media contact: Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) - German Energy Agency, Nadia Grimm, Chausseestrasse 128a, 10115 Berlin . Tel.: +49(0)30-72-61-65-804, Fax: +49(0)30-72-61-65-699, E-mail: grimm at dena.de .