Now there is also threatening in spring surplus of solar power, the network operator warns
© Marc Herremans – Mediahuis
High-voltage network manager Elia calls on the market on Friday for vigilance in connection with the overproduction of solar energy. While that warning was launched last year at the beginning of the summer in June, this will happen this year in April. « Elijah already sees challenges in the spring, if there were unexpectedly a lot of sun and little consumption, » it says.
The fact that the warning earlier this year is mainly due to the increased capacity of solar energy. Currently, 11.4 gigawatts of solar panels have been installed in Belgium. « At peak moments, depending on the orientation and other technical limitations, they can produce up to 9 gigawatt electricity, » says Elijah. In a year, the capacity increased by 1.4 megawatts and even with 4 gigawatts in two years. This corresponds to some nuclear power stations.
« The smallest deviation from the weather forecasts therefore immediately has a major impact on the balance between supply and demand, » explains Elijah. « That can cause negative prices and if the imbalance lasts longer, it can result in a frequency increase in Belgium and the countries surrounding us. » If the frequency of the high-voltage network (50 Hertz) differs too much, Black-Outs threaten.
There are different means to keep the balance on the net. In the first instance, the major players on the market are responsible for this themselves, for example by switching off or activating consumption in the case of an overcapacity. Possible negative prices on the imbalance market help to encourage such interventions. Due to the many sunlight, there has been negative prices in recent days.
If that did not prove sufficient, Elijah itself can also intervene. For example, the network operator can switch large wind farms at sea, turn to network operators from neighboring countries to export extra power, or in exceptional circumstances to switch large sun or wind farms on land
