Concepts for the improved integration of wind power into the German interconnected system

The ongoing increase in wind power in Germany requires the accomplishment of a number of challenges. Most notably, the substantial strain on the transmission grid and the increasing requirement of control reserve capacity need to be tackled. Therefore the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety has commissioned a scientific study, in which novel concepts for optimised integration of wind energy into the German interconnected system are being evaluated. The Institute of Power Systems and Power Economics (IAEW) of RWTH Aachen University and the Research Centre for Electrical Systems and Power Economics cooperatively handles the study. The investigations carried out by IAEW are focused. They comprise a generation management (GM) of wind turbines and an improvement in load forecast, both in terms of a reduction in necessary control reserve, an improved integration of wind power because of the utilisation of intraday markets, a demand-side management in order to provide control reserve and the potentials of modern storage technologies. Primarily, the application of GM proves to be of significant economical benefit. Moreover compressed air energy storages may prove to be a suitable utility for the integration of wind power.