•  10% more power can be brought online by measuring cable temperature in real time
•  2% cut in electricity prices using wind turbines and other power sources as virtual power plants
•  28% more wind power can be produced in storms using 'high wind ride through' control

Europe's transmission grid capacity can be used more efficiently, bringing far more power online, the EU-funded TWENTIES project has found. By, measuring power lines' temperature in real time rather than theoretically, for example, 10% more power can be put on the transmission and distribution grids.

Moreover, deploying TWENTIES technologies could reduce power prices in the German system by 2.2%, marginal electricity prices by up to 0.4% and cut carbon emissions by 3.5% by putting wind turbines together with other power generation in a 'virtual power plant'.

TWENTIES also showed that using 'high wind ride through' control meant turbines continued producing electricity at wind speeds of up to 32 metres per second rather than 25 - a 28% increase in output. It cut reserve requirements in half and reduced power system instability.

Other breakthroughs of the project - whose final publication will be launched tomorrow at a meeting in Brussels - included the successful testing of a DC circuit breaker prototype.

"Not only did this project take major technical steps forward, it also brought the wind industry and transmission system operators together in a successful collaboration, showing how wind energy can provide essential services to the grid", commented Vicente González López, TWENTIES technical manager, from Red Electrica de España.

"The results show modern technology and smart management can use renewables to improve grid operation and system security, and underline the value of investment in wind energy," said Jacopo Moccia from the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), which was a project partner.

The TWENTIES project ('Transmission system operation with a large penetration of wind and other renewable electricity sources in electricity networks using innovative tools and integrated energy solutions') was coordinated by Red Electrica de España and financed by the European Commission's seventh Framework Programme.

Project partners were:

Wind energy manufacturers: Gamesa Innovation and Technology, Siemens Wind Power

Utilities: Dong Energy Power, Electricité de France, Iberdrola Renovables

Grid operators and grid technology providers: 50Hertz Transmission, ABB, Alstom Grid, CORESO,

Elia System Operator, ENERGINET.dk, Red Eléctrica de España (coordinator), RTE EDF TRANSPORT, Tennet

Research institutes and universities: DTU Wind, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung, ENEA - Ricerca sul Sistema Elettrico, ELECTA (Electrical Engineering Department), Institute for Energy and Environment - University of Strathclyde, Université de Liege, Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores de Porto, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Sintef Energy Research, Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, Université Libre de Bruxelles, University College Dublin

Wind energy associations: EWEA