DISTRIBUTION GRIDS OF THE FUTURE – THE TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGS WE ARE GOING TO FACE

Abstract

The sustainable availability of electrical energy is one the most important factors in order to guarantee economic growth, social welfare but also protection of the environment. The European Union recognized the increasing dependency on the import of fossil energies like natural gas, oil and hard coal. Additionally, the European Union also identified an increasing threat of climate change caused by the increasing use of fossil energy sources. Therefore, the so-called 20-20-20 targets were agreed on as a substantial element of the “2008 EU Climate Action and Renewable Energy Package” [1]. By 2020 the member states of the European Union shall reduce their CO2 Emissions by 20%, increase their energy efficiency by 20% and finally increase the use of renewable energies in the overall energy sector to 20% of the total energy used. The baseline is given by the year 1990. These targets will show a substantial impact on the role of electricity in the modern society. The world of tomorrow will be more green, more energy efficient, more sustainable but also more electric. In other words electricity is a part of the solution. The 20-20-20 targets have a substantial impact on distribution grids and their operation. Therefore, the analysis of the 20-20-20 targets allows the development of a scenario concerning the structure and the operation of the electrical grids of tomorrow.