Identification of environmentally relevant network hotspots

The EU research project IRENE-40 aims to construct a roadmap for the European and Pan-European transmission network up to 2050. In this context a holistic assessment of the grid development takes place. In particular, this includes an ecological assessment in which the power generation emission change that can be achieved by grid expansion measures is considered. The Optimal Power Flow (OPF) is used as the main tool for the studies. Each analysis is done with a quantification of the sensitivity of the results at changing CO₂-price. Furthermore the OPF is extended with regard to an ecological approach: In an Ecological OPF a minimum-emission generation is simulated. That way grid development projects can be identified which lead to a positive economical impact but negative ecological impact and vice versa.