The constraints imposed to European grids by intermittent electricity injection

Intermittent renewables, such as solar or wind energy, induce additional difficulties for the transmission and distribution network management. The renewable electricity injected into the grid results in lower prices on the spot electricity market. Such a situation has both advantages and drawbacks for the end-user. The industrial consumer will partly benefit from a lower market price, whereas at the same time subsidies paid by the domestic consumer will be higher. The additional cost associated with intermittent electricity amounts to the difference between the purchase price paid to the producers of the renewable electricity (feed-in-tariffs) and the selling price on the day-ahead market With lower spot prices the difference increases. Consequently the generous subsidies to renewables due to the FIT System should be cut and a new energy policy to promote renewables must be implemented within the European Union. A common management of the European networks may largely contribute to improve the system. (author)