Wind energy has been used for the first time in Denmark to provide balancing services for the grid run by transmission system operator Energinet.
The TSO said the pilot project in partnership with trading group Energi Danmark shows that wind turbines, despite wind and weather, are reliable and can deliver exactly when needed.
The pilot has initially been based on turbines connected to the East Danish electricity price area, known as DK2, Energinet said.
The turbines have so far participated in the period in which Kundbyvaerket has been out of operation, and will continue to run for the rest of 2020 and into 2021, the company said.
Energinet head of flexibility and system services Kia Marie Jerichau (pictured, left) said: “Until now, we have been unsure whether it was safe enough to let wind turbines bid and deliver to the balance market – whether, for example, on Monday one could accurately predict how much a group of wind turbines would produce hour by hour on Tuesday.
“But the project shows that the forecasts are so good that they can deliver what they have promised in advance, and that the plants have the necessary regulatory properties.
“This is a major milestone for the green transition – it is simply a prerequisite that renewable energy sources can also provide balance services when the entire electricity system must be green.”
Energi Danmark division director Thomas Elgaard (pictured, right) said: “We are very pleased that our models and forecasts are so reliable that Energinet has security for delivery in line with conventional power plants.
“We have invested, and continue to invest, many resources in showing that renewable energy, in addition to being the answer to the green transition, can also contribute to solving future challenges with balancing the electricity grid.
“What we have seen in the pilot test has been extremely positive, and it is only the starting point that more and other forms of renewable energy can help balance the grid and participate in different markets in the future.”