05.03.2024
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
Tennet has developed the prototype of an innovative CO2 monitor in collaboration with the Research Center for Energy Economics (FfE).
The tool enables the well-founded calculation of the CO2 intensity in the German electricity mix in accordance with the requirements of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). This stipulates that transmission system operators must provide data on the proportion of greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity supplied.
The CO2 monitor, which is publicly accessible at co2-monitor.org, shows not only the actual, recalculated CO2 intensity but also a forecast of the expected CO2 proportion in the electricity mix for the following day. "The CO2 monitor thus offers industrial companies and private consumers a wide range of possible applications to make their own electricity consumption environmentally friendly and transparent," according to a press release from Tennet.
For example, private consumers can adjust their electricity consumption to minimize emissions by looking at the current and forecast CO2 share. The data can also be used, for example, to optimize the charging behavior of electric vehicles with regard to the CO2 share in the electricity mix. Companies can use the information to determine their carbon footprint and use it for sustainability reporting.
According to Tennet, the calculation methodology complies with current scientific standards and has been assessed by TÜV Süd as an independent testing body. It essentially uses the following input data from recognized organizations:
- National generation mix and electricity imports and exports: European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E)
- Emission factors for different types of power plants: Federal Environment Agency for Germany and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations
- Statistical data on energy input and output as well as scaling factors for net electricity generation: Eurostat and AG Energiebilanzen
- Grid losses: Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER)
In addition to the generation mix in Germany, the generation mix of all members of the European interconnected grid is also included in the calculation. This is the only way to calculate the CO2 intensity of imported electricity. A machine learning approach is used for the forecast for the following day, which is continuously trained with historical data on electricity generation in order to constantly improve the accuracy of the forecast.
The CO2 monitor is also intended as a step towards a common industry standard. According to Tennet, collaboration on the tool is currently being intensified via an implementation network that brings together representatives from various sectors (grid operators and industry). In this way, further possible applications are to be identified and implemented. A cooperation with the transmission system operator 50 Hertz is being sought in order to bring together existing prototypes and utilize synergies in development.
The development of the CO2 monitor is embedded in a research collaboration with RWTH Aachen University on the provision of information for end customers by grid operators. In this way, Tennet wants to ensure that information can be provided in a way that serves the grid, market and system.
Author: Günter Drewnitzky
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