Ørsted offshore
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Offshore wind farm provides control reserve
The Borkum Riffgrund 1 wind farm operated by Ørsted and Greencoat Renewables PLC is the first German offshore wind farm whose flexibility is used to stabilize the German power grid. Since May 2022, the offshore wind farm has been providing secondary control power for the German electricity grid. The wind farm maintains flexibility and responds to control signals from the e2m virtual power plant, which are requested by the transmission system operator as part of the marketing process.
Energy2market and Ørstedfulfilled the conditions for prequalification ina joint pilot project and played a key role in shaping the project. Approval was granted by the transmission system operator TenneT and the offshore wind farm has since demonstrated in regular operation that short-term grid fluctuations can be balanced out with renewable electricity from offshore wind energy.
Release of the concept for all control areas
In addition to TenneT, the Energy2market prequalification concept on which the project is based also convinced the other three German transmission system operators and was approved for all four control areas.
e2m demonstrates innovative strength
The integration into the German balancing energy market via the virtual power plant of e2m enables Ørsted to market the potential of the offshore wind farm in a system-serving manner and to release additional revenue electricity.
It is also a milestone in the energy transition. Borkum Riffgrund 1 shows that renewables can make a contribution to grid stability and thus turn from a cause of grid fluctuations into a problem solver.
To the point
“Offshore wind power is in no way inferior to electricity from conventional power plants. The power plants at sea not only produce far more electricity than any other renewable energy source. The technology is also competitive in terms of cost. And now offshore wind power is also conquering the area that was previously reserved for conventional energy sources: stabilizing the power grid. Offshore wind power is therefore one of the foundations of the energy transition in Germany, as it contributes to security of supply on many levels.” Jörg Kubitza, Managing Director of Ørsted in Germany
"Not producing inexpensive, sustainable electricity from solar systems in the first place because the framework conditions were not right was not the solution for us. With the storage system, the PV electricity is reliably fed into the grid when it is needed."
Franz Obermayer Junior, project manager for a PV storage combination in Kirchweihdach
About Ørsted
Ørsted believes in a world that relies entirely on green energy. The company plans, builds and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar parks, energy storage facilities, green hydrogen plants and biomass power plants. Ørsted also offers intelligent energy solutions for companies. In Germany, Ørsted operates a total of four offshore wind farms in the German North Sea and supplies the equivalent of around 1.4 million households with green electricity. Two further projects are under development. Ørsted is also working on projects in Germany to produce green hydrogen on an industrial scale. Ørsted is the only energy company in the world with a scientifically validated net-zero emissions target through the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). In 2022, Ørsted was named the world’s most sustainable energy company by Corporate Knights and is a recognized climate leader by the Carbon Disclosure Project. Headquartered in Denmark, Ørsted employs around 6,800 people worldwide, including around 250 at its German sites. Ørsted shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2021, the company generated a turnover of 10.4 billion euros.
About TenneT
TenneT is a leading European grid operator. We are committed to a secure and reliable electricity supply – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We are helping to shape the energy transition – for a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy future. As the first cross-border transmission system operator, we plan, build and operate an almost 24,500 km long high and extra-high voltage grid in the Netherlands and large parts of Germany and enable the European energy market with our 16 interconnectors to neighboring countries. With a turnover of EUR 6.4 billion and total assets of EUR 32 billion, we are one of the largest investors in national and international electricity grids, on land and at sea. Every day, our 6,600 employees give their best and ensure that more than 42 million end consumers can rely on a stable supply of electricity in line with our values of responsibility, courage and networking.
Lighting the way ahead together.
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