Nationwide electricity generation Coal is overtaking wind power again

Status: 06/11/2021 1:53 p.m.

A spring without storms has led to a decline in wind energy. Coal grew to become the most important energy source in the country in the first quarter. At the same time, the demand for electricity is increasing, says Minister of Economic Affairs Altmaier. Electricity production using coal in Germany overtook wind power again in the first quarter of 2021. According to the Federal Statistical Office, a “windless spring” resulted in almost a third less electricity from wind power. According to the authorities, the gap has been filled by increasing electricity generation from coal and natural gas power plants. From January to March inclusive, a total of 138.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity was generated and fed into the grid. According to preliminary results from the Federal Office, that was 2.6 percent less than in the first quarter of 2020.

Coal, gas and nuclear power dominate

While the electricity in the same period last year came mainly from renewable energy sources such as wind power, biogas and sun (51.4 percent), coal, gas and nuclear energy dominated at the beginning of this year (59.3 percent). With a share of 28.9 percent of the total amount of electricity fed into the grid, coal was the most important energy source for electricity generation in Germany in the first quarter of this year. The amount of electricity generated in coal-fired power plants increased by more than a quarter (26.8 percent) to almost 40 billion kilowatt hours compared to the same period in the previous year. The amount of electricity from natural gas increased by 24 percent to 22.5 billion kilowatt hours. In contrast, there was a strong minus of almost a third (32.4 percent) in wind power: The feed-in of 33.5 billion kilowatt hours was the lowest value for this energy source for a first quarter since 2018. In the two previous years, there was wind power significantly higher values ​​achieved due to strong spring storms.

Altmaier sees increased demand for electricity

Meanwhile, Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier admitted that his department had so far underestimated how much the demand for electricity in Germany is likely to increase in the course of the energy transition. “Due to the more stringent climate targets in Germany and the EU, we have to assume a significantly higher electricity demand than was previously assumed,” said the CDU politician to Wirtschaftswoche. “My house will submit new calculations for this.” Altmaier said that more energy must be produced, “from all available renewable sources: wind power and photovoltaics”. Altmaier said that he would present specific proposals on how offshore wind power on the high seas and other renewable energies could be expanded more than previously planned. For “green hydrogen” for use in the steel industry or the expansion of electromobility, many experts believe that significantly more electricity will be required in the coming years, which should come from renewable energies.

SPD puts pressure on

The SPD criticized Altmaier: “For months now, the SPD and the entire German industry and energy sector have been calling on the Federal Minister of Economics in vain to anchor realistic electricity requirements and a correspondingly ambitious expansion of wind power and photovoltaics in the EEG,” said parliamentary group vice-president Matthias Miersch of the dpa news agency. If Altmaier now announces new proposals, which can only then be implemented by the next federal government, it is “poor” and unworthy of a federal minister of economics, according to Miersch. The SPD had already submitted proposals months ago which, based on realistic electricity consumption, determine the associated expansion paths for green electricity up to 2030 and contain funds for acquiring space and accelerating it. “We could implement this next week,” said the politician.

These word-of-mouth statements are almost consistent with information from the US Senate hearing on a request to fund NASA with a figure of $ 585 million to invest in nuclear-powered propulsion technology in the fiscal year 2022. and other American efforts in this area. This means that Russia’s space nuclear energy program is not only for technical purposes, but also for geopolitical purposes. Russia’s current program has its roots in the Soviet era. The Soviet Union launched a total of 33 military satellites with the function of spying and targeting targets equipped with nuclear reactors into low orbit around the Earth from 1969 to 1988. Most of these satellites used reactors. Buk type nuclear power generation reactor, only 2 of them using advanced thermal electron furnace NPP Topaz with generating capacity from 4.5 to 5.5 kW, however, this project was suspended in 1986 . In the early 1990s, a Russian-American cooperation project aimed at continuing the development of the Topaz furnace, but this project was suspended in 1995. In the period 2000-2007, Russia also tried to find ways to cooperate with China. Nation in this field. Despite the economic decline for a long time, Moscow has been trying to continue its independent efforts in the field of the use of nuclear energy in space since 1998, and during the time of President Dmitry Medvedev in power, the This effort has been identified as a key priority for the Kremlin. The budget for this program of Russia for the period 2010-2018 is 17 billion rubles, divided between Roscosmos 9.8 billion rubles and Rosatom 7.2 billion rubles, equivalent to $560 million in 2010 exchange rates. However, the actual disbursement figure is much smaller. In 2010, only 500 million rubles ($16.5 million) were allocated for this purpose. Over the next decade, total disbursements reached nearly 10 billion rubles ($213 million), according to public information from Roscosmos and Rosatom. The results of these efforts have not been as successful as they initially suggested. For example, the technical requirements of the proposed product are an outer space nuclear reactor with a capacity of 1 MW of electricity and an ion thruster with a capacity of 50 kW. However, the reality shows that Russia is currently only developing nuclear power generation systems YaEU-25M, YaEU-25 and YaEU-50 with a generating capacity of 10-40 kW and propulsion using ionic force. 25 kW. At present, perhaps Russia is just stopping at the computational model run for more powerful reactors and engines. For comparison, NASA is still trying to design a 10 kW outer space nuclear reactor with a Stirling engine for the purpose of increasing efficiency, currently Russia is still revolving around the thermal electron model, and the problem of using Using engines or turbines in combination with reactors is still only a theory. It is hard to believe that Russia will design a nuclear reactor in space with a generating capacity of 1 MW or ion propulsion engines with a larger capacity in the near future. Anyway, Moscow is still trying to turn the results achieved into advanced applications in long-distance space travel or foreign politics. Due to a decline in space research activities in other sub-sectors, coupled with economic weakness, these problems have prompted the Kremlin to look for another trump card. While the development of nuclear reactors for space exploration is far from complete, the Russian government as well as industry is currently looking for the application of nuclear reactors to satellites. military. These satellites can be used for radar reconnaissance or electronic warfare (for example jamming) when they are deployed in low, mid or geostationary orbits. However, no tests of such satellites have yet been conducted, meaning Moscow is not ready to field such satellites in the near future. In addition, the promotion of nuclear-powered spacecraft could be used by Russian space and nuclear industry units as a tool to apply for funding, to promote a slow and risky research program. this. For its part, the Kremlin is still trying to blur its true purpose. They came up with the “Strategy for the development of nuclear energy in space by 2030 in 2019, and issued relevant policies for the first time in 1998. Even if Russian military satellites are used by Russian military satellites. Nuclear power appeared in 2030, it also did not bring about significant changes in the technical and military fields. However, Moscow is still trying to polish it as a tool to help shift political supremacy. First, Russia has consistently supported the ban on placing weapons in outer space. Second, Russia will not be able to stand in the forefront of space technology without cooperating with other countries in the field, so Russian leaders see nuclear technology in space as a way to develop. cooperation, even in times of growing hostility in the West. The Russian SPT-100 series Ion Thruster has been used on satellites since 1994.

Source: NYT After years of delays, the federal government approved the third offshore wind project in the US – and the biggest to date. The “Vineyard Wind” project consists of 84 giant turbines that will be built about 19 km from the Vineyard and Nantucket islands off the coast of Massachusetts. Vineyard Wind will have 800 Megawatts of generating capacity, outperforming Block Island Wind’s 30 MW and output from two test turbines installed in Virginia. According to the US Department of the Interior, this project, after going into operation in 2023, will generate enough energy to supply 400,000 homes and businesses. “Vineyard Wind” is a joint project between the energy company Avangrid Renewables and the Copenhagen Infrastructure Construction Company. It is expected that, when operating at full capacity, the Vineyard Wind farm has a total investment of 2 billion USD, can generate 800 MW of electricity / day. The Joe Biden government has a target by 2030 to generate 30 gigawatts of wind power. Interior Minister Deb Haaland evaluated the US licensing for this project as an important step to achieve the set goals of creating more jobs, combating climate change and strengthening the country. The US currently operates a number of small-scale wind farms off the coast of Virginia and Rhode islands.

Since the establishment of the Hua Na hydropower reservoir, people in Thong Thu and Dong Van communes (Que Phong district) have had more fish cage farming (photo). Up to now, on this lake surface, there are about 80 households participating in raising 326 fish cages of all kinds; in which many species have high economic value such as sea bass, mackerel, climbing fish, beetle, carp … With the selling price of about 50,000 VND / kg of carp, 100,000 VND / kg of climbing fish, ladybug, 120,000 VND / kg of sea bass and fish has provided farmers with a high and stable income. Among the people who have succeeded in making a living on the reservoir of Hua Na hydroelectricity include Mr. Lang Van Mao from Tuc village (Dong Van commune). In addition to the model of raising fish cages, this Thai ethnic boy also accepts to zonize, plant and protect forests on a floating hill in the lake bed, combine raising pigs, chickens … bamboo) has given him an income of over 100 million VND / year. In addition, Mr. Mao also took a boat carrying tourists to take wedding photos, admire the lake scenery, serve food … earn more income. In addition, at the Ban Ve hydropower reservoir, there are about 338 fish cages currently raised by people in Luong Minh, Huu Khuong and Yen Na communes (Tuong Duong district). In addition to raising fish in cages in the lake bed, people also add fishing in the wild, setting up farms along the lake to raise goats, cows, pigs …

For power plants and diesel generation sources, currently located in 2 areas: Dung Quat EZ and Bac An Binh village (Ly Son). In Dung Quat EZ, there is a power plant of Dung Quat Oil Refinery, with 4 units (4x27MW), total capacity of 108MW, regularly generating 50-60MW. In Bac An Binh village, the diesel generator system consists of 4 units with a total capacity of 402kW. In addition, in Bac An Binh village there is also a solar energy system that supplies electricity to the people on the island. Specifically, the solar energy system here includes: The battery system consists of 300 IREX panels, each with a capacity of 320Wp, a total capacity of 96 kWp; Sunny Tripower grid connected inverter system with 5 sets, total capacity of 100kW; Storage battery system has 192 batteries, total capacity 9,600Ah; Sunny Island battery inverter system has 12 sets, total capacity of 72kW. Dakdrinh Hydropower (Son Tay). As for solar power, Quang Ngai currently has 2 power plants: Binh Nguyen (49MWp) and Mo Duc (19MWp). In addition, there is a rooftop solar power system installed at the headquarters of Quang Ngai Power Company and the High-voltage Grid Operation Management Team (327kWp); installed at 110kV transformer stations: 295kWp. In particular, customers’ rooftop solar power is quite a lot. Accumulated to December 31, 2020, the province had 1,332 installation customers, with a total installed capacity of 163,881.86kWp. Particularly power from hydroelectricity, currently 10 hydroelectricity has been put into operation. In which, the power source connected to the 110kV power grid is 4 hydropower plants, with a total installed capacity of 263 MW, including: Dakdrinh Hydropower Plant (125MW), Dakre (60MW), Son Tra (60MW), Son Tay ( 18MW). Hydropower source connected to the distribution grid has 6 hydropower plants connected to the medium voltage grid, with a total capacity of 35.6MW, including: Ca Du (2.6MW), Song Rieng (3MW), Ha Nang (11MW) ), Clear Water (16.5MW), Huy Mang (1.8MW), and Nui Ngang (0.7MW). By 2020, these hydroelectric plants will operate and generate electricity to meet the electricity needs of people and businesses across the province. Quang Ngai province is supplied with electricity mainly from the national grid through the 500kV Doc Soi (Binh Son) 500kV transformer station (Binh Son), including: 500kV line from Da Nang – Doc Soi (110km) and the substation 500kV- (450 + 600) MVA Doc Soi. For the 220kV power grid, currently in the province there are 220kV lines Doc Soi – Dung Quat, Doc Soi – Quang Ngai, Doc Soi – Son Ha, Doc Soi – Tam Ky. The 110kV power grid in the province with load in Quang Ngai province receives power from 13 110kV stations, with a total capacity of 953MVA. For medium voltage grid, the entire distribution grid of the province has been operated at voltage levels 22kV and 35kV. Low voltage grid has over 3,520km of low voltage lines. “Currently, Quang Ngai Electricity Company supplies electricity to 13/13 districts, towns and cities of the province; 173/173 communes, wards and towns have electricity (100%). Particularly Be Island – Bac An village. Binh (Ly Son) uses diesel power and solar battery system to supply electricity, the number of households with electricity reaches 99.68%. Commercial electricity output in 2020 will be 1,715 million kWh, up 10.6% compared to to 2019. In the first 2 months of 2021, reaching 324.5 million kWh, up 49% over the same period in 2020. The electricity industry always ensures safe, adequate and quality power supply for the above development needs. area “, Director of Quang Ngai Electricity Company Le Hoang Anh Dung said.