EnergyBiz - January/February 2008 - (Page 28) A modern transmission grid is more efficient than old technology. Grid line losses are about 4 percent in Denmark, compared to 10 percent in the United States. Nielson acknowledged that part of that difference is explained by the vast distances that must be covered by transmission in the United States. Still, modernization will limit power line losses, she said, and result in less greenhouse gas emissions. While the Danes feel they have a superior grid – the power network’s nervous system – they are intent on developing its intelligence as well. Power systems have for ages relied on a handful of large central generating stations. With the advent of wind and other renewable energy forms, more small sites will go on and off line depending on a variety of factors. These resources must be integrated and used in the most efficient ways. To meet these complex requirements, Danish scientists have launched Syslab, a research facility for distributed power systems in Roskilde, located on a fjord west of Copenhagen. The development of a futuristic intelligent power system is a daunting task, said Henrik Bindner, at the Riso National Laboratory, where Syslab is located. “The challenge is to have millions of inputs,” he said. “It’s up in the air how to control such a system.” Bindner and his colleagues have defined the challenge and are hard at work meeting it. If successful, Denmark will play a commanding role in not only exporting wind turbines, but also the software and network intelligence that will make it all operate seamlessly. The Danes have a fix on the possibilities. Sten Frensen pulled out some back-of-the-envelope calculations. An area about the size of Texas and New Mexico contains enough wind energy to meet all of the world’s electricity needs if fully captured, he said. Or you could place turbines in the deep waters of the North Sea and generate an amount of electricity equal to half the world’s consumption, he said. Given rugged ocean conditions, the cost of wind turbines offshore is about double the cost of onshore. Even so, many will tell you that the future of wind power may be in the oceans, which can readily accommodate new, large turbines. Bo Morup, Vestas vice president of offshore sales, said, “Wind hits shore and loses 30 to 50 percent of its energy in the first 100 yards.” The trick is to capture that energy before it dissipates. A new generation of Vikings is heading to sea in search of opportunities to pull energy from the winds. They are coming ashore in the United States and fast-growing markets around the world, eager to do business. Why Denmark? Re Asons foR e xcelling in winD poweR By JespeR toRnB JeRg W ind turbines produce close to 20 percent of the electricity consumed in Denmark and the country is a world leader in wind turbine production. The transmission system operator claims that it is possible for wind power to serve as much as 50 percent of the electricity demand, and the statement is confirmed both by independent consultants and advisers to the Parliament. Why this focus on wind? Why this success in a country of 5.3 million citizens? Strong wind blows often from the North Sea. Denmark provides good wind power opportunities. Denmark has a long history of harvesting wind. Poul la Cour in the later half of the 19th century pioneered modern electricity-generating wind turbines. He built a wind tunnel for experiments and used electricity from his wind turbines for electrolysis to produce hydrogen for the gaslight in his school in Jutland. The technology did not achieve a breakthrough – but it was not forgotten. (CONTINuEd FROm PAGE 26 ) That’s a very big question. I think that Denmark has shown that it is possible to have a modern society which will have renewable energy playing a big role. It is technically possible. We had wind generating 41 percent of our electricity in Western Denmark one day in January 2007. We had a storm. If you have too much wind, the wind turbines shut down. For one split second we lost 1,000 megawatts in the system. There was no impact at all on the electricity. Due to our grid connections to the other Nordic countries, there was no breakdown, nothing. So it is possible to manage this. schiLLing EnErgyBiz So Denmark depends on the fact that it is surrounded by countries less tied to renewable power than it is. schiLLing In Denmark, we have doubled installed capacity with our decentralized power plant. The installed capacity in Denmark is approximately 13,000 megawatts but we usually use only 6,000. We’re not totally dependent on the grid connections to the other countries. Ministry for Climate and Energy I have not been focused on climate change. EnErgyBiz You are focused on wind generation. Denmark is identifying potential sites for additional wind generation and planning for the day when it will provide 50 percent of its electricity. schiLLing If there’s a desire to develop more offshore wind, we have facilitated this decision through our strategic planning. The government just decided for a new offshore wind park to be grid connected by 2012. EnErgyBiz Does anyone complain that offshore wind turbines are a visual blight? (CONTINuEd ON PAGE 30 ) Describe your job. I am part of the Danish Energy Authority. I have a director. And over him is the Minister for Climate and Energy. I am part of the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy. I’m in charge of wind power. EnErgyBiz schiLLing Are you pessimistic about the global warming and climate change? schiLLing Wind power is one of the solutions to combat climate change. But until now where I am part of a new EnErgyBiz 28 E n E rgyB i z January/February 2008
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