“In central Europe, Germany’s renewable revolution causes friction”

Germany’s excess power spilling over into Poland and Czech Republic on days with high renewables generation creates political and economic tension, writes Zeke Turner for Wall Street Journal. “The fallout has become acute for Polish and Czech coal power companies. Because the grids are clogged up by German electricity, the companies’ ability to trade the power they produce has been impaired, in the same way that a congested tunnel prevents more cars from entering,” writes Turner.
German grid development has not kept up with the expansion of renewables – especially wind power in northern Germany that needs to be transported to the country’s industrial south. To prevent power from taking a detour, German and Polish grid operators are installing phase shifters at the border.

Read the article in English here.

For background read the CLEW factsheet Loop flows: Why is wind power from northern Germany putting east European grids under pressure?