The feed-in of renewable energies already exceeds the consumption load in many regions of the Avacon grid area and a further high expansion of RE plants is expected in the coming years. In many rural regions, the feed-in from renewable energy plants exceeds the possibilities for transport via the electricity grid and decentralised flexibilities and storage facilities do not offer sufficient potential for use. Instead, dovetailing hydrogen production and electricity grid planning can create significant economic benefits.

The question was where suitable locations for electrolysers could be found in the Altmark grid group and what specific benefits the electrolysers offer for grid planning and redispatch and how the hydrogen can be transported and utilised.

The first step in this project was to determine suitable locations for electrolysers in the Altmark high-voltage grid group. Subsequently, the positive effect of the electrolysers at a suitable location for grid planning (2045) and redispatch costs (2033) was determined in a macroeconomic analysis. Finally, the transport and utilisation options for the hydrogen produced were evaluated.

E-Bridge was able to show that electrolysers operated in line with the market and positioned in line with the grid have a significantly relieving effect on the high-voltage grid. The combination of attractive hydrogen yields from market-orientated operation and avoided redispatch costs demonstrates the technical and economic viability of sector coupling via electrolysers at the interface between the HV and HD grid. To summarise, Avacon received a recommendation from E-Bridge on the need for action and a list of key messages for Avacon, policymakers and regulators.