TenneT looks to prepare for renewables spike

Netherlands-based transmission system operator (TSO) TenneT today unveiled a pilot designed to help it prepare for the increasing share of renewable electricity.

The pilot is in partnership with four parties who are due to start providing primary reserve capacity to TenneT from January 2017.

"Over the coming years, the production of renewable energy will soar, and there will be times when practically all of the large power plants are switched off. It’s at those times in particular that we need to be able to cushion any fluctuations," said TenneT COO Ben Voorhorst.

Primary reserve capacity is used to minimise frequency disturbances caused by imbalances between demand and supply. The primary reserve capacity that TenneT currently purchases comes from having conventional power plants increase or decrease their output.

The four pilot participants -- Engie, KPN, Peeeks and Senfal -- will use methods including combinations of water pumping stations, cooling installations, combined heat and power (CHP) plants, (used) batteries, thermal boilers, solar panels and wind turbines.

TenneT said it would use the pilot to examine whether other parties apart from conventional power plants can play a role in delivering primary reserve capacity.

The company launched another pilot earlier this year together with The New Motion, where charging stations for electric cars are used as primary reserve capacity.

TenneT also plans to examine options for contracting new parties for regulation and reserve capacity.

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