Grid intergration of geothermal electricity

Abstract

A growing share of renewable electricity requires an investment of 104 billion E to construct and refurbish almost 52.300 km of electricity lines in the European transmission grid. A case study on the German geothermal resources shows that it could offset problems in the transmission grid by replacing decommissioned nuclear power plants and consequently reduce adaption needs. Geothermal power supplies necessary renewable and controllable power. The procedure of grid integration is the same for all renewables. The main point of interest is the grid connection point where the plant is connected to the exsisting electricity grid. Its geographical location and the connected voltage level mainly define the costs of grid integration. The best situation for grid integration in Europe can be found in Denmark and Germany. Unfavorable is the situation in Eastern- and South-Eastern-Europe. The remaining European countries show rather mixed preconditions for grid integration of renewable electricity.