2019 in numbers

#1 We ensure a secure, reliable and efficient grid

GRI 203-1, GRI 203-2

99.99 %

RELIABILITY LEVEL OF THE GRID (ELIA)

AMBITION

As a system operator, we aim to maximise the availability of our electricity system and keep the lights on at all times to support the welfare of society.

CHALLENGE

As we integrate more and more renewable energy into the grid, we operate closer to its limits more often. Maintaining the balance and ensuring a highly reliable electricity grid becomes a particularly challenging task.

APPROACH

Our investment projects anticipate the further integration of renewable energy in an efficient and secure way as well as the emergence of innovative technologies. We constantly optimise our critical and strategic processes in order to minimise costs and operational risks.

System security

INTERVIEW WITH FILIP CARTON (HEAD OF ELIA’S NATIONAL CONTROL CENTER) AND ANDREAS JOHN (HEAD OF SYSTEM OPERATIONS 50HERTZ)

We maintain the balance

GRI 203-1, G4 - EUS – DMA DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

Elia Group ensures system stability and provides a safe and reliable power supply. Thanks to new technologies and methods monitoring large volumes of data, we are able to balance generation and consumption the whole year round.

What are the biggest challenges in maintaining the balance today?

Filip: “ Compared to 10 years ago, the grid is being operated closer to its limits more often. Our challenge is mainly the predictability. If you know of a problem well in advance you can prepare for it and coordinate with neighbouring grid operators. Volatility is increasing due to more and more renewable energy sources and international flows. These make accurate prediction difficult. ”

Andreas: “ We therefore have to operate our grid today in a completely different way than in the past. We have to intervene more often in system operations in an active and forwardlooking manner by implementing redispatching measures. In Germany - at a time when we are phasing out both nuclear and coal-fired power, the question of the future provision of system services is also a major issue. In particular, measures to maintain voltage stability are needed to ensure system security in the event of higher grid load caused by missing or outdated infrastructure. ”

Predictability being of the utmost importance, what are the consequences if you get it wrong?

Filip: “ Looking at the way we calculate capacity today, we have to make a choice two days in advance assessing where the market is going. Then we optimise the grid accordingly. If our prediction is wrong, we may allocate too much capacity to market coupling, which

“Only with a minimum grid infrastructure in place, we can tackle optimisation but

not vice versa.

Andreas John

finally cannot be ensured in real time. Or, we may allocate too little capacity to the market, which may cause a problem with security of supply. ”

Andreas: “ Redispatch measures cost money and are passed on to customers. That is why it is very important to us to keep the volume of redispatching as low as possible and to make the management of all available measures as efficient as possible. ” And what about the problem of loop flows?

Filip: “ Loop flows are nothing new. According to the laws of physics, energy takes the shortest path. Unfortunately, energy flows from Northern Germany via Belgium to Southern Germany. The quantities can be considerable. Sometimes averaging 1,500 or 2,000 megawatt, which is quite significant compared with our grid. ”

Andreas: “ We must use more active network components in order to avoid loop flows and to meet the demands of society, new generation patterns and energy markets. ” Is there a way to solve these issues for both Belgium and Germany other than expanding the grid?

Filip: “ One of the solutions offered by our joint study (Future-Proofing the EU Energy System towards 2030) is to ensure that grid operators don't have to make a choice in advance about the direction we think the market may head in. We can give the market coupling the freedom to do that. We call them Flexibility Hubs. It may sound complicated but it means that the freedom we have as grid operator to optimise the grid in a particular way, can be passed on to the market players so they decide the direction to go in during the market coupling itself and the market can then go where it wants to go. ”

Andreas: “ It is important to ensure that a precondition is met: we must expand the grid according to demand. Only with a minimum grid infrastructure in place, we can tackle optimisation but not vice versa. ”