Around 40 German and Dutch experts have agreed on nine key recommendations for the transnational expansion of renewable energies - and presented them to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil, today, Friday, 6 June 2014.
The occasion was the Energy Symposium organised by the University of Oldenburg in co-operation with the affiliated EWE research centre NEXT ENERGY on 26 May 2014 in Oldenburg. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima as well as Prime Minister Weil also took part in the event.
The key recommendations were signed by Prof Dr Joachim Luther, a pioneer of energy research at the University of Oldenburg in the 1980s and former director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE), and Prof Dr Paulien Herder, professor at Delft University of Technology and director of the Delft Energy Initiative (Netherlands), on behalf of the experts from both countries.
"With these key recommendations, we are providing further important impetus both for the joint German-Dutch expansion of renewable energies and for the entire north-west European energy policy," explained Prof Dr Katharina Al-Shamery, Acting President of the University of Oldenburg. Prof Dr Carsten Agert, Director of NEXT ENERGY, hopes that the approved paper will provide important impetus for knowledge transfer: "The energy supply of the future requires transnational solutions. The recommendations presented together with our Dutch partners open up the opportunity to develop application-oriented technology concepts with the expertise of both sides."
The experts recommend...
... a bi-national forum on the design of the energy market
While decentralisation, fluctuation and low marginal costs are characteristic of renewable energy technologies, the market does not reflect these characteristics; the discussion often comes up against hardened fronts. New solutions are needed to break through this process. A bi-national forum will give interest groups and stakeholders the opportunity to develop creative proposals.
... a coordinated policy on reserve capacities
Due to low prices for CO2 certificates as part of EU emissions trading and falling world market prices, coal is currently a sought-after energy source. In addition, electricity prices are rising in the Netherlands, while they are falling on the German electricity exchange. The experts recommend closely coordinating measures for the development of renewable energies in future and jointly developing political solutions for reserve capacities.
... a research and development programme for system integration
The transformation of energy supply systems encompasses electricity, heat, industry and transport - fields that will need to be even more closely interlinked in future, but are subject to complex interaction between technology and the economy. The experts recommend initiating a research and development programme that further develops and interlinks technological and economic models in order to research holistic strategies for the energy sector.
... a working group to model the renewable energy technology portfolio
The main sources of renewable energy in both the Netherlands and Lower Saxony are wind, solar and biomass. As the weather-related fluctuations in electricity production pose a particular challenge, the experts recommend setting up a working group to look at the modelling of energy systems. The aim is to gain insights into the optimal mix of these energy sources and the costs involved.
... a working group on storage technology
In order to be able to absorb a high proportion of renewable energies, numerous measures must be implemented in future supply grids to make electricity generation and consumption more flexible. This also includes storage systems. It is therefore recommended that a joint working group be set up to develop adequate storage strategies.
... a working group on smart grid standards
The term "smart grids" stands for the future convergence of energy and communication/IT infrastructures. This is of great importance for the management of renewable energies. In order to be able to implement smart grid approaches on a broad scale, harmonised technology is required. The experts recommend a working group to develop common standards.
... a working group on "responsible innovations"
The public energy debate today is primarily focussed on efficiency, environmental friendliness and security of supply. In the future, social acceptance and ethical issues will increasingly be added. Germany and the Netherlands could take on a leading role in the responsible handling of innovations in the energy sector by establishing a joint working group.
... a Centre of Excellence for building energy management
The experts recommend a joint Centre of Excellence for building energy management. In co-operation with the industry, model houses should be developed and widely introduced to the market, taking into account the aspects of energy generation and efficiency as well as smart home technologies. The conversion of existing buildings is also to be addressed in the Centre of Excellence.
... a map of joint energy activities
In order to intensify cross-border cooperation, a joint map of existing activities in the energy sector is recommended. This should provide an overview of entrepreneurial activities as well as research and development priorities.