EWE NETZ supplies energy in the form of electricity or natural gas through its grid infrastructure. Ensuring a secure energy supply is the top priority when expanding and operating the energy network. At the same time, the focus is also on decarbonisation, decentralisation and digitalisation. With its intelligent energy grids, EWE NETZ ensures a secure, independent, and climate-neutral energy supply in northwest Germany – and thus supports the region in becoming a hotspot for green energy.
Reliable and flexible energy grids
Secure supply of electricity and gasThe electricity and gas transmission grids of EWE NETZ and GTG Nord are among the most reliable energy grids in Europe. Both grids are currently being prepared for the energy transition – forming the foundation for the energy of the future.
Foto- und Bilderwerk EWE NETZ supplies natural gas to private and industrial customers through its secure gas transmission grid. The long-distance gas network of EWE AG, which is around 400 kilometres long, has been operated by the wholly owned subsidiary Gastransport Nord GmbH (GTG) since March 2012. It transports gas to grid operators, storage facilities and large consumers.
The entire gas infrastructure is facing far-reaching changes: Fossil natural gas will become less important in the future - instead, biomethane and, above all, green hydrogen will become increasingly important for the energy supply. Industrial and business customers will increasingly use green hydrogen in the future.
Green hydrogen can store large amounts of energy during its production. These can be retrieved when needed. In this way, seasonal fluctuations in electricity production from solar and wind power can be balanced by green hydrogen, as well as fluctuations in electricity demand. At the same time, the production of green hydrogen can grow in parallel with the expansion of renewable energy sources.
EWE is therefore increasingly planning, constructing and operating hydrogen grids in the future while also providing additional infrastructure services for the development of the hydrogen economy. Wherever possible, existing gas pipelines that become available due to declining natural gas demand will be used for the transport of green hydrogen.
© Adobe Stock EWE NETZ supplies the north-west of Germany reliably and efficiently with electrical energy through its 80,000 kilometres of grid. Each year, around 11 terawatt-hours of renewable energy are now fed into the grid. This amounts to 108 per cent of consumption – already far exceeding the 80 per cent target set by the Renewable Energy Act for 2030.
In total, more than 100,000 decentralised generation plants with a total output of more than 7,400 megawatts are connected to the electricity grid. The fluctuating energy sources of solar and wind power from decentralised generation plants are just as volatile as the increasing but flexible consumption from heat pumps or wall boxes for e-mobility. Nevertheless, the electricity grid of EWE NETZ—just like its gas transmission grid—is one of the most reliable networks in Europe.
© Adobe Stock The successful expansion and transformation of the electricity grids is the basis for the transformation of other supply areas, such as e-mobility or climate-friendly heat supply using heat pumps. In order to cope with these additional requirements, electricity grids not only require greater capacity but also need to become even more stable and flexible in the future. This can only be achieved with efficient, smart grids.
To manage the increasing complexity of the energy supply, EWE NETZ is converting its electricity grids into smart grids using digital technology. Only by networking all components and systems can the grids remain flexible and fulfil all future requirements. These smart grids are already creating the grids of the future in the northwestern Germany.
