© BMWK / Holger Vonderlind

Roadmap for stable network operation with 100 percent renewable energy

If the electricity system is to be climate-neutral, not only do we need to expand renewable energy and the electricity grids: we also need grid operations to remain stable. The System Stability Roadmap shows how this can be achieved.

On 6 December, the Federal Government adopted the System Stability Roadmap, which was drawn up together with the relevant sectors. It contains the roadmap for secure and robust system operation with 100% renewable energy, and the processes and functionalities needed for this. This is no easy task, because our electricity system is undergoing a fundamental change. In addition to a shift in electricity generation to renewable energy, the electricity grid is also being used by more and more new electricity consumers like e-vehicles, heat pumps and electrolysers.

The contents of the System Stability Roadmap

The roadmap presents a transformation path with specific measures and implementation steps for the conversion of the electricity system to climate neutrality coupled with secure and robust system operation. It sets out “who does what by when”. For the first time, it presents in a structured way the further developments which are needed to maintain system stability. This also creates greater planning security for manufacturers and industry, enabling them to develop their products in time and to build up production capacities.

The System Stability Roadmap has been developed since autumn 2022 in a broad-based participation process with the active involvement of the sectors (business associations, grid and plant operators, technical standardisation bodies, academia), and the Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency) with support from ef.Ruhr GmbH and the German Energy Agency (dena). More than 150 people from more than 80 institutions took part in more than 70 sessions.

Grid-forming power inverters: a key technology

Here is one example of the need for action highlighted in the roadmap: unlike conventional power stations, wind and photovoltaic installations and battery storage facilities are connected to the grid via inverters. The equipment and technical connection rules need to be developed further to include grid-forming characteristics. This is also being supported by the market-based procurement system for the inertial reserve (in German only), which is currently being drawn up by the Bundesnetzagentur.

The System Stability Roadmap implements a mandate from the coalition agreement. Now that it has been published, work can start on realising the identified measures.