Aarhus – The future requirements for flexibility in the energy system

Denmark | January 2012 - June 2012

Ea Energy Analyses did an analysis of the future need for flexibility in the energy system and possible means to cover this need for the municipality of Aarhus. The background was the government’s ambitions to increase the share of energy consumption by wind power to 50% in 2020, to divert electricity and heat to 100% renewable energy in 2035, and make the energy system independent of fossil fuels by 2050.

The analysis focused on the integration of wind power, which is considered to be one of the biggest challenges for the Danish energy system in the future.

Aarhus seeks to be a carbon neutral urban community in 2030

The municipality of Aarhus has a vision of being carbon neutral in 2030. The municipality is therefore facing a number of challenges in relation to converting the existing energy system. In the municipality’s climate plan from 2011, the focus is on five strategic main tracks for the future development. One of the tracks is “the intelligent energy system”.

Means for integration of wind power

Integration of wind power is one of the main incentives for the development of the dynamic energy system in Denmark. At the same time development with wind power – and in time other kinds of fluctuating energy production – creates a number of challenges for the energy system.

The purpose of the report was to clarify the need for and effect of different means to integrate wind power and to clarify when to use the different means. The analysis is based on the technical solutions and then focused on the economic possibilities to exploit the individual solutions.