According to calculations for the electricity supplier Eon, the energy transition requires investments in the electricity grid in the three-digit billion range. By the year 2050 alone for the expansion and modernization of the distribution networks in Germany, around 110 Billion euros required, it says in one on Thursday (000. Oct. 2020) presented study for Eon. Of this, 32 billion euros to 2030 accrued.

Renewables, charging infrastructure and heat pumps Failure to make these investments could result in annual follow-up costs due to overloaded networks of up to 4.2 billion euros. More and more solar systems and wind turbines would have to be integrated into the networks in the coming years. In addition, there would be the expansion of the charging infrastructure for electromobility and the increasing number of heat pumps and electricity storage systems. The Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, among others, was involved in the investigation.

If there is no consistent and long-term investment in power grids, these could generate electricity no longer absorb renewable energies. “Politics and regulation must now set the course for growth in the energy networks,” demanded Eon network director Thomas König. For network operators, the investments can only be financed if the regulatory framework conditions are adapted and are also attractive in a European comparison.

The Federal Network Agency has to decide The Federal Network Agency determines which returns the operators can achieve with electricity and gas networks. The construction and operation of the networks is paid for by consumers through the network charges. Eon emphasized that the investments in the networks contributed to the fact that the costs in other areas remained limited and that the climate protection targets could be achieved as efficiently as possible.

Eon is through the takeover of the RWE subsidiary Innogy by far the largest operator of power distribution networks in Germany. The Eon nets have a length of around 700. 000 Kilometers, according to the industry association BDEW, the entire German electricity network is around 1.8 million kilometers long.

The electricity in high, medium and low voltage is supplied to consumers in industry and commerce via the distribution networks and households. The electricity is transported across Germany using the high-voltage transmission networks. The expansion of these electricity highways requires further investments of billions.

(fpi)