2023-05-30 13:10:35
This is the first time that the sun and the wind are enough to meet the demand for electricity in our country.
In detail, renewable energies produced this Monday, between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., 8,303 megawatts (MW) of electricity, a record, according to Elia. On Sunday, renewable energies also did well with the highest production of 7,695 MW. The previous record dates back to 2022 (7,112 MW).
At its peak, the production of renewable energies on Monday made it possible to cover all the electricity demand for a weekend day or a public holiday. This had never happened before, confirms Elia.
For the Federal Minister of Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten, this demonstrates that the energy transition is taking place “at cruising speed”. “This weekend we got a glimpse of our green energy future. The more wind and sun, the lower the prices. But that requires more flexibility from the system,” adds the minister.
High renewable generation, combined with low consumption, resulted in negative imbalance prices of -658 euros per megawatt hour (MWh). To rebalance the market, large consumers are then paid to consume electricity. Wind turbines also had to be shut down. “Stopping wind turbines when the wind blows is the world upside down”, still regrets the minister. The need for flexibility will go through the construction of battery parks, capable of absorbing surplus production and restoring it in the event of demand.
In addition to the imbalance prices, electricity prices on the wholesale market were extremely cheap this weekend, with prices of -90 euros per MWh at times.
For the operator of the high-voltage network Elia, the shutdown of wind turbines demonstrates the importance of as many consumers as possible contributing flexibly to the balance of the market, whether via a heat pump or an electric car, and are also financially advantaged when they consume electricity when renewable energies produce the most.
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