Plans made between Germany’s government, the federal energy network and grid companies to distribute renewable energy by constructing new electricity lines by 2022 will allow the country to safely shift from nuclear power to renewables.
According to Reuters, the plan involves an investment of tens of billions euros in power grid over the next ten years. Besides the onshore investment worth EUR 20 billion, approximately EUR 12 billion would be necessary to connect offshore wind parks.
Germany has 4,000 km of existing power lines that need modernizing and requires building of 2,100 km of direct current lines in addition to 1,700 km of alternating current lines.
Due to the government’s decision made last year to rapidly close the nuclear power plants, the country needed a plan to avoid power shortages, whilst companies are faced with an inadequate grid for offshore wind power plans.
As the process of moving to renewables is accelerating, Germany’s decision to transfer from nuclear to renewable power cannot be reversed, regardless of the cost, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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Offshore WIND staff, May 30, 2012; Image: Alpha Ventus