European_super_grid
European super grid
Possible future super grid
The European super grid is a possible future super grid that would ultimately interconnect the various European countries and the regions around Europe's borders – including North Africa, Kazakhstan, and Turkey – with a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power grid.[1]
This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Information mostly from around 2010; needs update with European Green Deal plan f.i.. (May 2020) |
It is envisaged that a European super grid would:[1]
- lower the cost of power in all participating countries by allowing the entire region to share the most efficient power plants;
- pool load variability and power station unreliability, reducing the margin of inefficient spinning reserve and standby that have to be supplied;
- allow for wider use of renewable energy, particularly wind energy, from the concept that "it is always windy somewhere" – in particular it tends to be windy in the summer in North Africa, and windy in the winter in Europe;
- allow wide sharing of the total European hydro power resource, which is about 6 weeks of full load European output;
- decrease Europe's dependence on imported fuels.
A recent study from the University College Dublin (UCD) Energy Institute indicates that implementing a pan-European 'supergrid' could lead to a 32% reduction in energy costs across the continent.[2]