Energy of the future will come from multiple energy sources and should be part of a regional collaboration.
The current crisis has brought to the fore the need for both the individual consumer and society as a whole to consider how best to deliver energy supplies. DTU’s Professor Marie Münster is in no doubt that the optimal solution is to stick with the energy collaborations that already exist.
“Only when we think about energy in regional terms, rather than nationally, are we able to exploit our green sources of energy in the most optimized way. For example, when we have enough wind energy for ourselves, we export surplus to Norway, and when the wind dies down the Norwegian water turbines get going and provide us with energy in Denmark,” says Marie Münster.
“This allows us to achieve security of supply as cheaply as possible. If we discontinue that collaboration, then there is a need for major investment nationally to ensure we have adequate storage capacity in place so that we always have green electricity available. The alternative is that solutions that utilize fossil fuels or biomass will continue to exist in order to ensure that necessary electricity production can continue.”
Security of supply has come into focus
Marie Münster predicts that as early as this coming winter, it will become apparent whether the green energy collaboration can continue or whether the deteriorating situation in security policy terms will see us close the borders to cooperation.
“Energy policy has always been about price, security of supply, and the environment. In recent years, we have had a particular focus on the economy and climate, but now security of supply has suddenly risen in importance on the agenda,” says Marie Münster.
Multiple energy sources are essential
Ensuring that the composition of our future energy supply draws upon multiple different sources is important in a number of respects. This also applies to, for example, district heating systems which embrace many different types of energy.
“It can be gas, biomass, surplus heat from nearby businesses, or large heat pumps. This means that district heating companies can guarantee the supply of energy with a more stable price than when energy comes from a single source.”
Marie Münster likewise believes that in future we will prioritize connecting different energy systems together so that we are able to optimize our use of energy.
“We need to link together individual sectors: electricity, biogas, and district heating. Combined with the possibility of flexible consumption and storing energy produced by sources such as wind turbines and solar cells when the weather is favourable, we will be able to ensure a stable, efficient, and green energy supply in future.”
The first steps in bringing energy sectors closer together have already been taken, and Marie Münster is convinced that the current energy crisis will continue to push development in the right direction.