Exploiting the full integration potential of fluctuating renewable energies in power grid operation by new predictive technologies

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Over the past years, a lot of (political) initiatives led to rising numbers of decentralized renewable energy generators like wind parks and solar plants, even on rooftops of private households. Although this tendency is very positive concerning the targeted energy transition and for reaching the EU’s valuable 2030 climate and energy goals, the thousands of different decentralized power supply units connected in different parts of the grid, at different voltage levels and under different grid code standards challenge grid operators. The volatility of renewable energy generation (caused by weather conditions) and the need to balance power generation and demand within grids head to an oxymoron: although wind blows and sun shines, grid operators have to reactively curtail these plants from the grid to guarantee grid safety. Current control room systems are not made for a proactive and exact management and control of single assets – limiting the share of renewable energies in our power mix to a lower level than it’s possible. To fully exploit the potential of clean and green energy by 100%, energy & meteo systems developed FuturePowerFlow, an algorithm-based, modular system which uses weather forecasts, locations of renewable energy plants, data on grid infrastructure, historic demand data and even operating status of plants (iced, under maintenance, etc) to predict power flows in the grid based on generation and consumption for the next 48h in very high time-resolution. Instead of reacting just demand driven, FuturePowerFlow enables grid operators for the first time ever to proactively plan and manage the integration of decentralized renewable assets into their grid and execute precise actions within one system. FuturePowerFlow targets on a EUR 2.6bn energy market and is the perfect solution for transmission system operators and distribution system operators to manage their grids efficiently, directly targeting at and fulfilling their user needs.