GE Energy Consulting in Europe

Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind project grid integration

Long AC power cable circuits transfer power from offshore wind turbines to the onshore grid. Wind power variability necessitates dynamic reactive power compensation to manage reactive power and system voltage, as well as meet Grid Codes both dynamically and in steady state.

The GE Consulting Services team in Munich executed the technical system studies required to design the system for its planned MW capacity. Through numerous feed studies, the team developed a validated system design to help project interconnection to the NnG Grid.

Generation planning study

Ukraine agreed to greenhouse gas emission limits for its thermal power plants (TPPs) as defined under its National Emissions Reduction Plan (NERP), a binding obligation to the European energy community. However, due to various mitigating factors—including the COVID-19 pandemic and the aggression of the Russian Federation—the country encountered setbacks to meeting these limits by the established deadlines.

GE Consulting Services carried out modelling of the Ukraine market to determine the optimal mix of TPP upgrades, new builds, and retirements, as well as production cost simulations to project operation and revenues.

Power market development

GE’s Consulting Services analyzed each country’s existing supply/demand, generation mix, annual load/peak demand profiles, major generator owner’s market share, and power market dynamics. CS also:

- Reviewed future generation outlook and strategies against peak demand growth and changing energy policies.

- Captured each region’s future development plans on new renewable and nuclear energy additions to sustain system adequacy and compliance to emission norms.

- Assessed the existing region’s transmission grid and future expansion plans.

Decarbonization pathway study

The 2008 UK Climate Change Act set an ambitious goal of 100% zero carbon power generation by the year 2050. Simultaneously, UK demand for electricity is expected to more than double in that same timeframe. Consequently, it is essential for the UK to accelerate significant investment in all varieties of lower carbon generation methods as well as grid infrastructure.

GE Consulting Services determined that a combination of various electricity generation, transmission, and system control/management technologies implemented within three years would be essential to meeting the UK Climate Change Act demands.