Wat zijn smart grids?
Slimme netwerken zijn elektriciteitsnetwerken die gebruik maken van digitale technologieën, sensoren en software om vraag en aanbod van elektriciteit beter op elkaar af te stemmen in realtime, terwijl de kosten tot een minimum worden beperkt en de stabiliteit en betrouwbaarheid van het netwerk behouden blijft.
Waarom zijn Smart Grids belangrijk?
De overgang naar schone energie leidt tot een grote toename in de vraag naar elektriciteit en de grootschalige uitrol van variabele hernieuwbare energiebronnen zoals wind- en zonne-energie, waardoor de vraag naar elektriciteitsnetten toeneemt. Technologieën voor slimme netwerken kunnen helpen om deze overgang te beheren en tegelijkertijd de behoefte aan dure nieuwe netwerkinfrastructuur te verminderen, en kunnen ook helpen om netwerken veerkrachtiger en betrouwbaarder te maken.
Wat is gewenste richting?
Ondanks enig herstel van de economische ontwrichting als gevolg van de Covid-19 pandemie, moeten de investeringen in slimme netwerken aanzienlijk worden verhoogd om op schema te komen met het scenario van netto nuluitstoot tegen 2050, vooral in opkomende markten en ontwikkelingseconomieën.
Een slim netwerk is een elektriciteitsnetwerk dat gebruik maakt van digitale en andere geavanceerde technologieën om het transport van elektriciteit van alle opwekkingsbronnen te controleren en te beheren om te voldoen aan de variërende vraag naar elektriciteit van eindgebruikers. Slimme netwerken coördineren de behoeften en capaciteiten van alle producenten, netwerkbeheerders, eindgebruikers en belanghebbenden op de elektriciteitsmarkt om alle onderdelen van het systeem zo efficiënt mogelijk te laten werken, de kosten en milieueffecten te minimaliseren en tegelijk de betrouwbaarheid, veerkracht, flexibiliteit en stabiliteit van het systeem te maximaliseren. De meeste van de betrokken technologieën zijn al tot wasdom gekomen, zodat het volgen van investeringen inzicht geeft in de niveaus van invoering.
Investeringen in slimme netwerken moeten tot 2030 meer dan verdubbelen om op schema te komen met het Netto Nulemissie Tegen 2050 (NZE) scenario, vooral in opkomende markten en ontwikkelende economieën
Ontwikkelingen in diverse landen en regio’s
Verschillende grote economieën hebben substantiële nieuwe financiering aangekondigd om hun elektriciteitsnetten te moderniseren en te digitaliseren.
Landen en regio’s die opmerkelijke vooruitgang boeken met de invoering van slimme netwerken zijn onder andere:
- The European Commission presented the EU action plan “Digitalisation of the energy system” at the end of 2022. The Commission expects about EUR 584 billion (USD 633 billion) of investments in the European electricity grid by 2030, of which EUR 170 billion (USD 184 billion) would be for digitalisation (smart meters, automated grid management, digital technologies for metering and improvement on the field operations).
- China plans to modernise and expand its power grids with USD 442 billion in investments over the period 2021-2025.
- Japan announced in 2022 a funding programme of USD 155 billion to promote investments in smart power grids.
- India launched in 2022 an INR 3.03 trillion (Indian rupees) (~USD 38 billion) scheme to support power distribution companies and improve distribution infrastructure.
- The United States announced in 2022 the Grid Resilience Innovative Partnership (GRIP) Program, with a funding opportunity of USD 10.5 billion to support the upgrade and expansion of US electric grids.
- Canada is investing USD 100 million through its Smart Grid Program to support the deployment of smart grid technologies and smart integrated systems
Investeringen
Er wordt steeds meer geïnvesteerd in elektriciteitsnetten, met ambitieuzere netwerkplannen om de elektrificatie van de economie en de integratie van hernieuwbare energiebronnen te vergemakkelijken.
Investeringsuitgaven in het landelijk netwerk 2015-2022
OpenInvestment (billion USD, 2022)Digital share201520162017201820192020202120220801602403204000%5%10%15%20%25%
- United States
- China
- Europe
- OECD Pacific
- Other
- Digital share
Investment in electricity grids increased around 8% in 2022, with both advanced and emerging economies accelerating investment to support and enable the electrification of buildings, industry and transport, and to accommodate variable renewables in the power system. For example:
- The European Union action plan published at the end of 2022 envisages investment of about EUR 584 billion (USD 633 billion) in the electricity grid by the end of 2030, of which around EUR 400 billion (USD 434 billion) are earmarked for the distribution grid, including EUR 170 billion (USD 184 billion) for digitalisation.
- In January 2023, China‘s State Grid Corporation announced investments of USD 77 billion in transmission in 2023 and USD 329 billion over the entire period of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). China Southern Power Grid will contribute USD 99 billion, which – added to contributions from some regional companies – brings the total nationwide investment to USD 442 billion.
- Japan announced in 2022 the creation of a YEN 20 trillion (USD 155 billion) fund to encourage investment in new power grid technologies, energy-efficient homes and other carbon footprint-reduction technologies, with a focus on smart grids as well as better connections between regional power grids.
- India launched in 2022 an IRN 3.03 trillion (USD 36.8 billion) scheme for power distribution companies to modernise and strengthen distribution infrastructure, including the mandatory installation of smart meters, which is expected to cover 250 million devices by 2025.
- In late 2021, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) sought input on a USD 10.5 billion programme for smart grids and other upgrades to strengthen the electricity grid. USD 2.5 billion of this funding is allocated for grid resilience, USD 3 billion for smart grids and USD 5 billion for grid innovation.
- The World Bank Group together with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other development agencies announced at the end of 2022 an initiative to promote private investment in distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems to electrify targeted areas in Africa quickly and efficiently.
Investment
Investment in electricity grids is growing, with more ambitious network plans to facilitate the electrification of the economy and the integration of renewables
Investment spending on electricity grids, 2015-2022
OpenInvestment (billion USD, 2022)Digital share201520162017201820192020202120220801602403204000%5%10%15%20%25%
- United States
- China
- Europe
- OECD Pacific
- Other
- Digital share
Investment in electricity grids increased around 8% in 2022, with both advanced and emerging economies accelerating investment to support and enable the electrification of buildings, industry and transport, and to accommodate variable renewables in the power system. For example:
- The European Union action plan published at the end of 2022 envisages investment of about EUR 584 billion (USD 633 billion) in the electricity grid by the end of 2030, of which around EUR 400 billion (USD 434 billion) are earmarked for the distribution grid, including EUR 170 billion (USD 184 billion) for digitalisation.
- In January 2023, China‘s State Grid Corporation announced investments of USD 77 billion in transmission in 2023 and USD 329 billion over the entire period of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). China Southern Power Grid will contribute USD 99 billion, which – added to contributions from some regional companies – brings the total nationwide investment to USD 442 billion.
- Japan announced in 2022 the creation of a YEN 20 trillion (USD 155 billion) fund to encourage investment in new power grid technologies, energy-efficient homes and other carbon footprint-reduction technologies, with a focus on smart grids as well as better connections between regional power grids.
- India launched in 2022 an IRN 3.03 trillion (USD 36.8 billion) scheme for power distribution companies to modernise and strengthen distribution infrastructure, including the mandatory installation of smart meters, which is expected to cover 250 million devices by 2025.
- In late 2021, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) sought input on a USD 10.5 billion programme for smart grids and other upgrades to strengthen the electricity grid. USD 2.5 billion of this funding is allocated for grid resilience, USD 3 billion for smart grids and USD 5 billion for grid innovation.
- The World Bank Group together with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other development agencies announced at the end of 2022 an initiative to promote private investment in distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems to electrify targeted areas in Africa quickly and efficiently.
