"We need to speed up the procedures"
Germany has big goals: The country is to be climate-neutral by 2045. To achieve this, life will be electrified, with heat pumps and electric cars, but also industry, of course. It is a mammoth task. ntv.de talks to Patrick Wittenberg, Managing Director of Westnetz.
Germany has big goals: The country is to be climate-neutral by 2045. To achieve this, life will be electrified, with heat pumps and electric cars, but also industry, of course. It is a mammoth task: in order to achieve the energy transition, green electricity must be produced without end. And this electricity must make it into homes and businesses. But where does Germany stand in terms of grid expansion and what challenges need to be overcome? ntv.de talks to Patrick Wittenberg, Managing Director of Germany's largest distribution grid operator Westnetz.
ntv.de: What does the energy transition mean for your company?
Patrick Wittenberg: The energy transition is the biggest task the energy sector has ever seen.
And how are you tackling it?
We are taking a new approach and transforming our entire energy system: we are shutting down the large power plants, have already phased out nuclear energy and have also decided to phase out lignite and hard coal. For the transformation to succeed, we need two things: firstly, a massive expansion of the grid. We need more and larger lines and more and larger transformers. And secondly, we need to invest in the digitalization of our grids. We call this smartification - we install sensors. The sensors will tell us how busy the grids are and where there is still room, so to speak.
Germany wants to be climate-neutral by 2045. Is the grid expansion going fast enough?
These are very specific goals. Grid expansion is working well and sensibly. But the truth is that I would like to see it happen faster in some places. But we have very lengthy planning and approval procedures. We need to speed up these procedures.
Will renewable energies even be enough for us?
We will also need back-up capacities in the future. Hydrogen power plants in particular are planned for this in the future. At the same time, there is a great need for energy storage, whether that be pumped storage power plants, hydrogen-powered storage or battery storage. All of this will help our energy system.
Should we be afraid of a blackout?
We are working hard to ensure that such situations do not occur. With the new power plant plans and the expansion plans for conventional and renewable energies, we are on a sensible path to preventing precisely such scenarios. Our goal must be to provide Germany as an industrialized nation and its citizens with a reliable power supply 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round.
What is your vision for a climate-neutral year 2045?
In 2045, we will have a much smarter grid than we do today. We will not be able to ensure that electricity is only generated where it is consumed. Our country is too diverse for that. So in 2045 we will still have a massive task of transporting and distributing electricity. We are working on this, it is our job to make this energy system work. And it will.
Oliver Scheel spoke with Patrick Wittenberg
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To meet Germany's climate goals, where does grid expansion stand and what challenges need to be addressed?
Grid expansion is progressing well yet some areas could benefit from faster development. However, the main challenge lies in the lengthy planning and approval procedures that need to be accelerated.
What role do renewable energies and energy storage play in achieving a reliable power supply for Germany in 2045?
Renewable energies will be crucial, and backup capacities will also be necessary, such as hydrogen power plants and various energy storage solutions. These will help in mitigating potential supply gaps and ensuring a reliable power supply for Germany in 2045.
Source: www.ntv.de
