08/16/2023
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
The Lower Saxony Renewable Energy Association (LEE) sees a lot of room for bioenergy in the new power plant strategy of the German government. Necessary is more expansion of flexible plants.
Federal Minister of Economics and Climate Protection Robert Habeck recently presented the current interim status of the national power plant strategy. The strategy reflects the planning for the secured power in the future electricity system, which ensures flexible power generation in the event of a further expansion of wind energy and solar plants. In addition to future hydrogen power plants, the paper also holds out the prospect of expanding the output of biomass and biomethane plants in the order of 6,000 MW, which the Lower Saxony Renewable Energy Association (LEE) welcomes.
Joost Kuhlenkamp, LEE consultant for bioenergy and heat explained, "This is an important and correct signal to the industry, which we very much welcome." He added that no other form of energy can currently provide such quantities of renewable and flexible power as biomass plants. "Thus, given the right framework conditions, an increase in output is also achievable in the short term," Kuhlenkamp said.
However, he also expressed criticism: "However, the current tenders do not provide for any increase in plant output, these rather stand for a reduction in output in the next few years." At the same time, he said, plans for new gas-fired power plants to run on hydrogen in the future threaten to reinforce new fossil fuel dependencies. "At the very least, therefore, all renewable energy potential should be raised in parallel," Kuhlenkamp demanded.
Flexibilization potential currently not exploited
From the LEE's point of view, the existing biogas plant park in particular offered considerable potential for increasing secured output. Lower Saxony's power generation from biogas and biomethane is already set up flexibly in large parts and follows the requirements of the electricity market. "This high degree of flexibility shows how willing Lower Saxony's plant operators are to become an even bigger pillar of the energy system," he said.
Further projects to increase the installed capacity or even the preservation of the plants would not be covered, however, currently by the political framework conditions, regrets the association. Thus, in the last biomass tender of the Federal Network Agency in April 2023, not all bids could be awarded, because the volume was not high enough.
Kuhlenkamp explained, "Thus, the potential loss of flexible power already occurred as a result." In addition, he said, it would be difficult for plants in the north to be awarded a contract because of the southern quota. The southern quota favors plants in the southern states, as conventional power plant capacity has to be replaced here. "The licensing requirements and speed are also currently causing operators to refrain from further flexibilization," the speaker warned. Here, he said, regulatory support is also needed to implement the power plant strategy.
Author: Susanne Harmsen
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