Inter-connectivity, Towards A true renewable Future

This year the European Union announced a gigantic 1 trillion Euro greed deal investment plan with the initiative of bringing the entire electricity production of Europe to 100% renewables. An ambitious goal that has been echoed throughout the globe. It is of course possible to shift our energy generation from the current mix of fossil fuel generation, nuclear and renewable to 100% renewables in as less as 30 years. The technologies exist that 1 trillion euros can go a long way to achieving this goal. To give us the best chance in achieving that goal, wastage of renewables need to be avoided.

With research into California's renewable energy, we discovered that without careful analysis, it is incredibility easy to waste tens of mission of dollars on renewable energy resources when they are not properly integrated into the grid.

California has to disconnect a huge portion of their solar panels from the grid during summer months as there is no demand of electricity they produce. The wasted power is continuously rising as more and more solar panels are installed, with a record high curtailment of 2,24,000 MWh (June 2019). Enough to power at least 17,300 homes for entire year. Wasted energy is wasted money, what if there was a possibility to avoid this wastage without having to invest in expensive equipment's to store this energy. In this blog we will explore the planned European supergrass and Indian Super-grid.

The primary reason why California curtailed that huge amount of power loss, was because its level of inter-connectivity with its neighboring states is extremely low. California has an opportunity, its climate is ideal for solar generation, so much to that they produce more that they need. They have some options on what to do with this, they could create new industries that could use this excess power, like water desalination or hydrogen generation plant. They could store the energy using pumped hydro or batteries so that they could use the solar power at night. Both of these options get a lot of attention. But today we will explore options that will solve the California's problem at a fraction of the price. A simple and effective method is to trade this energy with its neighbors, Grid inter-connectors.

Grid Inter-connectors are a simple enough in principle, they are just large high voltage transmission cables that allow traditionally separate power markets to trade power with each other. The Californian government has so far resisted the prospect of joining the wider interconnected grid as they would loose governance of their energy market. The new regional market would be under the control of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, whose commissioners are appointed by the president. Their primary concern is however that joining the federal energy regulatory commission will force them into propping up carbon intensive energy sources like coal from other states.

On the contrary, joining the regional market like this will allow California to export all of those excess solar power for a profit, while importing cheap excess wind power from states like Montana, Wyoming and New Mexico. Allowing California to reduce it dependence on Natural gas power plants to pick up the slack on darker days and ultimately reduce the cost of electricity and move them closer to their green energy goals.

Unity across border will be essential to achieving the ambition of clean energy and the European Union is in a strong position to be an example for the world as to what it will look like. The continental European electricity grid is already the largest synchronized electricity grid in the world.

Above is the map of Europe's current interconnections, each member state is constantly buying, and selling electricity to each other to manage their supply and demand. Denmark regularly produces excess wind and instead of storing it they will sell it to their neighbors like Norway, who take advantage of the cheap power to fill their pumped hydro reservoirs, they can later release the water to produce electricity when the demand is high.

Interconnections like this create a more diverse source of power, where different regions can benefit from their advantages in climate and geographic features. Norway, Sweden and other mountainous regions can confidently invest in pumped hydro facilities knowing that they will have a market to buying cheap electricity to fill them and a market to sell it a higher price. Western regions of Europe can take advantage of the strong Atlantic winds, Iceland and Italy can increase investment in easily accessible geothermal power, while sunny southern regions can continue building cheap Solar farms.

You don't necessarily need to send power over long distances, which can result in transmission power losses. If Spain is producing excess Solar power, while Denmark is producing too little wind, France can act as an intermediately, buying cheap Solar power from Spain and selling some of its own Nuclear power to Denmark instead. This requires a common market and high level of corporation between members. But if it succeeds, it is estimated that it will save European costumers between 12 to 40 Billions Euros annually by 2030. Although, while reducing pollution from fossil fuels.

It is clear that Inter-connectors can provide grid stability and reduce electricity prices and so part of 1 trillion Euro green energy fund will be set to strengthening the connectivity between the members states and creating the European Super Grid. For example, the Celtic Inter-connector that will join the Ireland grid to the French grid will receive 530 Million Euro in investment from the EU, while the Irish and the French grid providers will find the remaining 470 million Euro required to complete the connection. This interconnection will have a capacity of 700 MW and will be capable of powering 450,000 homes. The connection will allow Ireland to continue benefiting from its stormy position on the edge of the Atlantic by growing its wind portfolio and selling its excess wind power to the continent, while also benefiting from Frances Nuclear and Hydro electricity power plants during calm days.

This is one of may inter-connectors planned and the European Union has stated a goal of at least a 10% interconnection for all member states by 2020. That means they must have interconnection capable of transporting at least 10% of their total electricity capacity at any time.

Countries like Spain have been lagging behind but are gradually catching up. A new interconnection opened in 2015 tunneling through the Pyrenees mountains for 8.7 km. Another sub-sea connection crossing the Bay of Biscay is expected to become available by 2025. There are many more interconnections under construction, and this target level of interconnection will reach 15% for 2030, and will continue raising through time. Eventually this will grow into what is being dubbed as European Super Grid. Which could grow even further to include Solar energy rich North Africa. These developments may seem trivial, but they are critical first step towards a cleaner future. European energy market is going through a seismic shift. Oil Pipeline and coal shipments are being replaced with grid inter-connectors and wind turbines. With the ability to export excess renewable energy, countries are incentivized to continue growing their renewable portfolio, as they can increase their exports and ultimately improve their economy.

India, being centrally placed in South Asian region and sharing political boundaries with SAARC countries, namely, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, is playing a major role in facilitating planning of interconnections with these countries for effective utilization of regional resources. India has developed expertise in implementation of HVDC and UHVAC projects and it will be a privilege to connect all the neighbouring countries electrically through HVDC/UHVAC transmission lines. This shall give rise to mutual cooperation amongst neighbouring nations and lead to prosperity and energy security in the region. India is already having interconnections with SAARC countries as is enlisted below:

India – Nepal

Nepal is already radially interconnected with India at various places through 11kV, 33kV, 132kV, and 220kV lines. For transfer of bulk power, interconnection between India and Nepal through Dhalkebar (Nepal) - Muzaffarpur (India) 400kV D/C transmission line (operated at 220kV voltage level) is under operation. About 550MW of power can be supplied to Nepal through these interconnections.

With the operation of Muzaffarpur – Dhalkebar link at 400kV, about 950 MW power can be transferred to Nepal.

India – Bhutan

India and Bhutan already have existing arrangements mainly for import of about 1350MW power from Tala HEP (1020MW), Chukha HEP (336MW), and Kurichu HEP(60MW) in Bhutan to India through 400kV, 220kV and 132kV lines, respectively.

For evacuation of power from various upcoming Hydro Electric Power plants (HEPs) in Bhutan like Punatsangchu-I (1200MW), Punatsangchu-II (990MW) & Mangdechu(720MW) HEPs, two no. 400kV D/C (quad) cross border interconnection lines were completed in 2019. With the commissioning of these links, the power transfer between Bhutan and India would be enhanced to about 4250MW.

Power from above HEPs in Bhutan and NER projects would be transferred to other part of India through high capacity ±800kV, 6000MW Biswanath Chariali – Alipurduar – Agra Multi-terminal HVDC bipole line.

India – Bangladesh

A high capacity interconnection between India and Bangladesh exists through Baharampur (India) – Bheramara (Bangladesh) 400kV D/C line along with 2x500MW HVDC back-to-back terminal at Bheramara. Additional 400kV (operated at 132kV) interconnection from Surajmaninagar in Tripura in India to Comilla in Bangladesh has been implemented. These interconnections cumulatively facilitate transfer of power of the order of 1200MW to Bangladesh.

Further, Baharampur (India) – Bheramara (Bangladesh) 400kV D/C 2nd line and 400kV operation of Surajmaninagar (Tripura) – North Comilla (Bangladesh) cross-border link along with 500MW HVDC Back-to-Back terminal at North Comilla is under implementation. With commissioning of these links, the power transfer capacity between Bangladesh and India would be enhanced to about 1540MW.

Another high capacity India-Bangladesh interconnection viz. Katihar (India) – Parbotipur (Bangladesh) – Bornagar (India) line is under discussion.

India – Sri Lanka

An interconnection from Madurai (India) to New Habarana (Sri Lanka) is under discussion between the two countries.

In addition to the above, a small radial interconnection also exists between India and Myanmar.

Our cities and countries and constantly undergoing change. In our short life times, it is easy to think that technologies like fossil fuels power are here to stay, but they just like the water wheel will soon become primitive. We get great perspective about the ephemeral nature of our technologies and the societal norms by learning about the growth of ancient cities.

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