PROTECTING EUROPEAN CIVILISATION: EUROPE’S SUPERGRID

Eddie O’Connor Marcos Byrne Introduction

1. What Europe will look like in 2050. I. What will our electrical demand be? II. How influential will rooftop solar and storage be? III. What effect will electric vehicles have on this demand? IV. How will the demand be met by renewables?

2. What Resources are available to meet this demand. I. Where will the main sources of generation be located? II. How can we access the areas of great potential?

3. How we can distribute this . I. How do we interconnect countries with great wind and/or solar resources with those with weaker renewable resources? II. What are the challenges involved? Hemispheric Temperature Change – Annual Mean

Hemispheric Temperature Change - 5-Year Running Mean 1.4

1.2 Northern Hemishpere 5-Year Running Mean 1 Southern Hemisphere 5-Year Running Mean 0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0

-0.2 Hemispheric Temperature Change (C) Change Temperature Hemispheric -0.4

-0.6 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020 EU 2020 Strategy and the Paris Climate Agreement • 20% reduction in emissions (from 1990 levels).

• 20% of EU energy from renewables • This target varies between countries depending on their starting points.

• 20% increase in energy efficiency.

• The 2020 strategy feeds into future targets such as reducing EU emissions by 40% by 2040.

• All EU countries are also part of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Source: UNEP What does European demand look like now?

EU by Fuel Type 4,000

3,500 3,335 3,269 3,265 3,237 3,204 3,213 3,244 156 3,159 143 142 130 129 128 131 131 3,000 510 765 702 583 458 497 597 639 Other Fossil

2,500 Gas 473 461 543 531 384 357 Hard 493 496 2,000 Lignite 332 324 322 306 312 347 325 343 Nuclear 1,500 Renewables 857 839 830 877 876 882 917 907

1,000 ElectricityGenerated (TWh)

500 857 900 936 956 977 679 678 768

- 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Source: SuperNode Research Source: Eurostat Current State of Renewables in Europe

60% Share of Energy from Renewable Sources in EU28 2004 50% 2019 40% 2020 Target

30%

20%

Renewable Share Renewable 10%

0%

20.0%

• 2019 data shows that renewables had a 19% share of energy in 15.0% the EU28. 10.0% • 14 Countries have already met and exceeded their 2020 Historical

targets. 5.0% 2020 Target Share of Renewables of Share 0.0% • Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Malta, Romania, Slovenia already have a RES over 30%. Source: Eurostat Year Dropping Cost of Wind & Solar

Offshore Wind

Source: Lazard EU Electricity Demand – Future Trend (Baseline)

Electricity Demand (TWh per year) 4800 5000 Residential Transport

Services Industry 4100 4000 1820 3450 3250 1530 3000 1440 1150 1480 2000 1250 1010 940 150 130

Power Demand (TWh/year) Power 1000 90 100 1350 980 990 1190 0 2005 2010 2030 2050

Source: SuperNode Research Source: SuperNode Research Future Power Demand - Assumptions

The assumptions made for calculating the effect of Solar PV and storage on future power demand are: 1. 25% of residential demand will be met through rooftop solar along with battery storage by 2030, with this increasing to a 50% reduction from rooftop solar and storage by 2050. 2. The service industry will also benefit from a 10% reduction in power demand by 2030, increasing to 20% by 2050. 3. The manufacturing industry can benefit from reducing its power demand by 10% by 2030 and by 20% by 2050. Rooftop Solar – How can these reductions be met?

• Meeting the 50% reduction in residential demand would require approximately 128 million homes in Europe to adopt 12m2 of Solar PV. Assumptions made: • 12m2 of Solar PV on each roof. • Panel conversion efficiency of 30%. This assumes that continued development takes the current efficiency from 17% - 18% to 30%. • Solar Radiation (kWh/m2/day) was obtained by taking an average of the solar radiation from Dublin, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Seville, Athens, and Naples.

• The 20% reduction in demand from the services sector from solar, under the same assumptions as residential, found that approximately 37.5 million premises will require rooftop solar in order to meet this reduction. • 18m2 of Solar PV on each roof.

• For the industrial sector, it was assumed that, on average, 30m2 of solar PV could be installed per premises. This means that in order to meet the 20% target, 27.5 million rooftops would be required. • 30m2 of Solar PV on each roof. Future Power Demand – Energy Efficiency Assumptions The assumptions made for calculating the energy efficiency measures would have on future power demand are: • A 10% reduction in demand would be seen by 2030, further increasing to a 20% reduction by 2050 for residential demand. • A 5% reduction in demand from the services sector by 2030, increasing to a 10% reduction in demand by 2050. • Industry demand reducing by 2% by 2030, and by 4% by 2050. EU Space Heating and Cooling Loads

• Calculated total EU space heating load is 3,158 TWh/annum, 1,904 TWh/annum is Residential, 758 TWh/annum is Service based, 496 TWh/annum is Industry

• Calculated total EU space Cooling load is 540 TWh/annum.

• Improvements in insulation, optimised ventilation with heat recovery, increased urbanisation (heat islands) and global warming will lead to a decrease of the load.

• Growth of population, dwelling size, and comfort levels will lead to an increase in space heating load.

Source: European Commission Electric Vehicles – What effect will they have?

• The first key assumption was that car ownership will remain the norm.

• The following assumptions were made with regards to performance in 2050: • Average Consumption: 12.67 kWh/100km. • Average Annual Mileage: 15,000 km. • Annual Power Usage per car: 1,900 kWh. • Average Charge Time (240V): 8 hours.

• Charging of EV vehicles was mostly performed during the night using smart chargers. Commercial Electric Vehicles – What effect will they have?

• The following assumptions were made with regards to performance in 2050:

• The timing for the charging of commercial vehicles will be very different to private cars.

• Fast charging for buses exist. ABB to install 450kW charger for buses at multiple worldwide locations. Growth of Electric Vehicles

BEV = Battery Electric Vehicle PHEV = Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Source: Aurora Energy Research, & TYNDP 2022 Annual Demand From Private EV’s

Annual Demand from Private Electric Vehicles 400

302 300 245

200 178

100 91

64 Annual Demand (TWh)Demand Annual 15 - 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2050 Year

Source: SuperNode Research Annual Demand From Commercial EV’s

Annual Demand from Commercial Goods Electric 1,200 Vehicles 988 1,000 801 800

583 600

400 297 208

Annual Demand (TWh)Demand Annual 200 49 - 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2050 Year

Source: SuperNode Research Importance of when Charging Occurs

Smart Scenario

Current Scenario

• Smart Scenario: • Current Scenario: • 10% status quo charging. • 90% status quo charging. • 90% optimised charging. • 10% optimised charging. Source: Aurora Energy Research Effect of EV charging on - Commercial Electric Vehicles

• The introduction of Autonomous HGV’s will usher in an era of 24hr goods transport.

• Without regulation, commercial vehicles will massively increase the peak demand. • As with cars, the timing of charging is crucial.

• Charging stations could have battery storage which may be charged by PV during the day and from the grid during periods of low demand.

• The use of solar PV on commercial vehicles will also alleviate increases in peak demand. Effect of – Gross Electricity Demand Gross Electricity Demand 9,693 10,000 System Losses 9,000 Indirect Electricity Demand 881 Industry 8,000 1,504

/year) Services 7,000 Transport TWh 5,716 1,837 6,000 Residential 520 5,000 301 3,795 1,776 4,000 3,575 1,535 345 325 3,000 1,417 1,440 1,150 1,383 2,000 940 1,010 387

Electricity Demand ( Demand Electricity 2,278 1,000 90 100 1,589 980 990 - 2005 2010 2030 2050

Source: SuperNode Research Source: SuperNode Research The Chemical Industry – The Forgotten Industry Demand

• The Chemical industry has decoupled energy consumption from production resulting in a 56% reduction in energy intensity since 1990.

• Analysis of the chemical industry found a maximum potential demand from the industry could reach 11,700 TWh (including fuels).

• It is important to note that this demand is based on renewable hydrogen and chemicals production

Source: Dechema How Renewables can meet this Demand: Current Trend • In 2015, Renewable Energies accounted 2017 Renewable Energy Generation (TWh) for 77% of new EU generating capacity. 6.5

4.4 196 Hydro • Renewables generated 976.7 TWh of electricity in 2017 (30% of total electricity Onshore Wind demand). Offshore Wind 119.1 294.6 Solar PV

• In 2016, 86% of new capacity was from 56.1 Solar CSP renewable energies.

300.0 Geothermal • As of 2017, there was 428 GW of Renewable capacity installed, including: • 169 GW of Wind. 2017 Renewables Total: 977 TWh • 150 GW of Hydro (excluding pumped storage). • 132 GW of Solar PV.

Source: SuperNode Research Source: WindEurope How Renewables can meet this Demand: Future Need • The assumptions made for 2050: 2050 Renewable Energy Generation (TWh) • Offshore has a of 60%. 32 307 • By 2050, 54% of total demand will come from Hydro Wind. Onshore Wind • Solar PV has a capacity factor of 30%. 701 Offshore Wind • By 2050, 27% of total demand will come from 2,628 Solar. Solar PV • All other renewable source remain at 2017 1,380 capacities in 2050. Biomass

Geothermal • The required Total Renewable capacities are: 3,889 • Hydro: 200 GW (+50 GW) • Offshore Wind: 740 GW (+724 GW) • Onshore Wind: 450 GW (+297 GW) 2050 Renewables Total: 7,768 TWh • Solar: 1,000 GW (+868 GW)

Source: SuperNode Research Source: SuperNode Research EU SCENARIO REVIEW Energy Efficiency - Electrification

• Electrification leads to major increases in energy efficiency

• Transport • Passenger BEVs use 25% of ICE vehicles’ energy consumption – 75% reduction in primary energy demand • Commercial good vehicles use 50% of diesel vehicles energy consumption.

• Buildings • Heat pumps have a COP which is 4-5 times higher than the COP for typical gas boilers • The energy intensity of electric cooking solutions is 10% lower than gas based solutions.

• Industry • Electric arc furnaces using recycled steel are between five to six times less energy intense than traditional coal based methods (blast furnaces). Transport

• Private car ownership remains stable and in some scenarios, number of vehicles increases. • Scenarios discuss autonomous driving and its potential effects.

• Transport will have the biggest growth in electricity demand.

• Market trends in reducing Total Cost of Ownership will drive adoption of electric solutions.

• Hydrogen fuel for transport where limitations in energy density (aviation) mean electric solutions are not currently suited. Buildings

• Increased push in energy efficiency measure dominate this sector. • Renovation rate increase to 3% per annum.

• From 2021 onwards, all new buildings will be nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEBs)

• More stringent regulations and incentives required to drive adoption of renewable and carbon free energy use for buildings. • Renovation of old building stock key to driving energy efficiency gains and implementation of improved building standards Space Heating and Cooling

• In residential buildings, ~71% of energy is used for space heating alone.

• Energy efficiency improvement, mainly insulation, lead to a 50% reduction in space heating demand.

• District heating has potential to supply 50% of residential heating demand Industry

• Electrification is essential, other drivers for decarbonisation include: • Demand side management – increase reuse/recycling of raw materials • Energy Efficiency – lower energy intensity production methods and equipment • Electrification of heat • Hydrogen and biomass as fuel or feedstock • CCS or CCU

• These drivers can lead to a 22% reduction in Industry FEC by 2050. Industry - Electrification

• Scenario electrification rates range from ~46% (DNV) to 60% (Eurelectric).

• WEO has electrification rate of ~38% by 2040 for Europe

• Electrification plays major indirect role according to 1.5TECH scenario for production of alternative feedstocks and fuels

• 1.5TECH scenario has the highest electricity demand from industry with 4,808 TWH, where ~28% is direct electricity demand. Energy Demand – 1.5TECH

• Electrification of FEC reaches 50% FEC Energy Carrier

100% Solids 90% Fossil Liquids • Gross Inland Consumption = 1,285 Mtoe 80% e-Liquids • Equivalent ~14,945TWh 50% 70% e-Gas 60% Hydrogen • Final Energy Consumption = 645 Mtoe 50% Heat Distributed

• Equivalent ~7,955 TWh Biomass 40% 14% Other RES 5% 30% 10% Electricity • High share of electrification but also 20% maintains some fossil fuels in the mix. 7% 10% 6% 5% 0% Fuel Type Energy Demand – DNV GL

Energy Carrier Share of FEC

• Electricity to become primary carrier of energy 100% 6% Electricity with 41% share 90% 5% Oil 10% 80% Natural Gas

70% Coal 23% • Gross Energy Demand will reach 45,551 PJ 60% Biomass

• Equivalent to ~12,653 TWh 50% 13% Uranium

40% Direct Heat

30% Offgrid PV • Final Energy Consumption = 34,498 20% 41% Direct Solar Thermal • Equivalent to ~9583 TWh 10% Direct Geothermal

0% Hydrogen Carrier Energy Demand – WEO

• WEO only considers as far as 2040. Energy demand (Mtoe) Substainable Development 1600

Total electrification rate of ~36%. 1400 1200

1000 • Gross energy demand expected to fall 800 by ~28%. 600

400

• Total energy demand – 1,141 Mtoe 200 • Equivalent to ~12,270 TWh 0 2025 2030 2040

Coal Oil Gas Nuclear Bionergy Other renewables Hydro Energy Demand – Eurelectric

• 60% direct electrification

• Indirect electricity demand related to P2X, Hydrogen production, and synthetic fuels.

• Achieves 95% decarbonisation.

• Significant technological progress required with mass adoption of these new clean technologies. FEC : GIC

• 1.5TECH – 7,955:14,945 = 53.2% • Lower electrification rates lead to higher losses, higher dependency on hydrogen and thus higher ratio.

• DNV GL – 34,498:45,551 = 75.7% • Higher share of electrification and lower dependency on hydrogen and other green fuels

• Eurelectric – 6:8.4 = 71.3% • Eurelectric only provides info on gross electricity and not energy EU SCENARIO REVIEW: GENERATION MIX Future European Generation Mix

• Information found in T4.1.1 on generation mix will be used to inform future generation mix.

• An understanding of trends in renewable energy adoption is important and must be considered in generation mix.

• Draft 2030 NECP generation mixes will be used to inform the future trajectories of the different technologies Current Installed Capacity

• Offshore wind installed capacity INSTALLED CAPACITY 2017 (GW) approximately 18GW. CSP, 2 Marine, 0

Geothermal, 1 • Solar CSP only being built in Spain. Solar PV, 107 Plans to increase their installed capacity • Coal, 170 drastically by 2030. Oil, 50 Wind, 169 • Hydropower is ear its economical limit for

installed capacity but theoretical resource in Gas, 217 Europe could allow up to 350GW. , 44

Hydro, 155 • In 2017, Renewable generation accounted for 77% of new installed capacity Nuclear, 125 Generation Mix – 1.5TECH and DNV GL

2050 INSTALLED CAPACITY (GW) EUROPEAN INSTALLED CAPACITY 2050 (GW) Fossil Fuel BECCS, 49.1 Geothermal, Gas, 96.76 Fossil Fuels, 3.25 118.2 (CCS), 16.7 Offshore Wind, Coal , 79.40 167.54 Oil, 58.22 Nuclear, 121.3

Nuclear, 97.51 Other Renewables, Wind Onshore, Onshore Wind, 244.8 758.7 329.65 Hydropower, 190.75

Biomass, 66.55

Solar, 1029.8 Wind Offshore, 451.4 Solar PV, 891.01 Generation Mix – WEO and Eurelectric

INSTALLED CAPACITY 2050 (GW) Marine, 16 Coal, 27 CSP, 12 Oil, 12

Gas, 263 Solar PV, 317

Geothermal, 3 Nuclear, 115

Wind, 439 Hydro, 175

Bioenergy, 72 Generation Mix – Challenges

• All scenarios call for major advances in clean technologies • None of them consider existing new technologies such as floating wind, bifacial PV, etc in the future scenarios

• 1.5TECH assumes an overly optimistic capacity factors for onshore wind, 50% • Best in class onshore wind projects are achieving approximately 35%. • DNV GL have modelled 37% capacity factor for 2050.

• Capacity factors for fossil fuels is also excessively large, considering future use of FFs will be for load balancing and grid control. • DNV GL have modelled 27% for gas vs 55% by 1.5TECH

• None of the scenarios have offshore wind as their primary source of . Takeaways for SuperNode

• Energy Efficiency has bigger role to play in FEC:GIC ratio than previously thought. • For FEC, main consideration is Buildings and transport.

• Hydrogen does not need to be as influential as previously thought • Important in some sub sectors but not overall

• Generation technology development and capacity factors must be further examined • Floating wind not considered major player by any scenario • Capacity factors for some technologies grossly exaggerated in scenarios • Offshore wind to lead wind installations

• Generation mix must be developed in a more grounded fashion • Improve capacity factor assumptions and adjust mix accordingly 1.5TECH Realistic

SuperNode Realistic 1.5TECH EU 1.5TECH SuperNode Energy Scenario Demand Installed Generation Installed Generation Installed Generation Capacity Share of Capacity Share of Capacity Share of Technology Capacity Capacity Capacity Capacity Capacity Capacity Factor Generation Factor Generation Factor Generation (GW) Calc. (TWh) (GW) (TWh) (GW) (TWh)

Onshore Wind 759 50% 3,323 30% 550 40% 1,927 17% 450 35% 1,380 12% Offshore Wind 451 65% 2,570 23% 835 60% 4,389 40% 740 60% 3,889 35% Solar 1,030 30% 2,706 24% 1,050 30% 2,759 25% 1,012 30% 2,660 24% Other Renewables (inc. 245 50% 1,072 10% 28 73% 179 2% 15 73% 96 1% Hydro) Hydro - 40% - 0% 220 40% 771 7% 200 40% 701 6% Nuclear 121 50% 531 5% 120 70% 736 7% 110 70% 675 6% Fossil Fuels 118 55% 569 5% - 5% - 0% - 5% - 0% Fossil Fuels (CCS) 17 55% 80 1% 50 5% 22 0% - 5% - 0% Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS) 49 55% 237 2% 100 35% 307 3% 100 35% 307 3% Total 2,790 11,090 TWh 2,953 11,090 TWh 2,627 9,707 TWh Hydrogen - The solution?

• Approximately 95% of hydrogen produced today is through steam reforming of methane and coal gasification.

• Green Hydrogen must be produced using electrolysis – currently about 8GW of electrolysis capacity worldwide

• Electrolysis has an efficiency of approx. 70% which means more hydrogen capacity is required vs other forms of storage with higher efficiencies (ie Battery Storage) Hydrogen - The solution?

• BEVs are 4 times more energy efficient than FCEVs. • Market trends dictate battery is the winner

• Heat Pumps have a COP 4 times higher than conventional

• Hydrogen as storage vector has similar round trip efficiency issues as FCEVs

• Hydrogens role should be limited to industry feedstock, and potentially aviation and shipping. Current State of Storage

• Both wind and solar remain variable sources of energy.

• This can lead to periods where low output from renewable sources cannot meet demand.

• This inverse is also true where there may be periods of large production and low demand.

• Reliability of power availability is crucial to grid operators, and the addition of storage to renewables reduces the intermittent nature of renewables. What are the Challenges?

• Predicting future wind and solar resources with accuracy is difficult.

• They require conventional generating stations during periods of low production in order to meet demand.

• Storage of excess production is a solution which can output stored energy during periods of low generation. Rokkasho Village Wind Farm is a prime example of this. Levelised Cost of Storage (LCOS)

Source: Lazard Source: Lazard Lithium-ion Battery Prices – Forecast and Developments

Prices have fallen 87% since 2010

Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance Lithium-ion Battery Prices – Forecast and Developments

Note: Prices include both cell and pack costs. Average of BEV and PHEV batteries

Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance Lithium-ion Battery Prices – Forecast and Developments

Volkswagen Signs deal 2019 Market Average of for battery packs at 156$/kWh 124$/kWh until 2025

Note: Prices include both cell and pack costs. Average of BEV and PHEV batteries

Source: Bloomberg New Energy Finance Storage: Future Trend

• Large Scale battery storage is becoming more prominent, both in Sodium Sulphur and Lithium-ion forms.

• Projects currently operating with storage offer a glimpse into how their outputs can be better managed.

• Future technologies such as Graphene Supercapacitors will offer: • Greater energy density, • Faster charging times, • Faster discharging times, • Lighter than Lithium Cells • Paired with dry electrolytes, can cycle almost infinitely. Alternative Storage Solutions – Cryogenic Liquid Air Storage

• Liquid Air Storage Demonstration Project in Manchester, 5MW 15MWh

• Claimed Levelised Cost of Storage of 140 $/MWh for 200MW, 2GWh storage system

• Efficiency approximately 60 – 75%

Source: Highview Power Solar Resource - Europe

Source: Solar GIS Solar Panel Technology Advances

• Current efficiencies of around 20%.

• New materials such as Perovskite have shown efficiencies in excess of 25%

• Bifacial PV generates electricity by capturing light from both sides of the panel.

• A recent study showed that a bifacial PV system paired with solar trackers yielded 27% more than a conventional solar system. Europe’s Offshore Wind Resource

Source: New European Wind Atlas North Sea Wind – The Poster Child The North Sea – Too High a Target?

Water depth 100-1000m Floating Water depth 60-100m Floating Water depth 30-60m Water depth 0-30m 12 nm zone, water depth 0-100m EEZ zones includes Offshore Wind Technology Advances Average Rated Offshore Turbine Capacity

Source: WindEurope Offshore Wind Advancements – Opening New Markets Floating Wind Outlook

Source: Equinor Source: Equinor Why not Onshore?

Capacity Factor Technology Country • Latest German Onshore wind Existing Future auction in October 2018 saw England 26.9% 30.9% prices climb to 6.26 c/kWh. Wales 31.1% 0.9% Onshore Wind • Latest French Offshore wind Scotland 26.7% 35.2% auction in 2019 saw prices N. Ireland 24.2% 32.4% drop to 4.4 c/kWh. UK 38.8% 47.3% Germany 39.8% 51.2% Offshore Wind Denmark 40.9% 53.0% France NA 50 +% Translation to Output

70% output at 10 m/s

<10% output at 5 m/s What about the variability of renewables?

• Dispersing our renewable resources will obviate local variability in wind and solar output.

• These dispersed resources will need to be connected to demand centres around Europe.

• This will enable the stable and reliable production of renewable energy Today’s Transmission Technology

Voltage Source Converters installed in the North Sea offering a route back to market.

Capacity: 900 MW Volume: 100,000 m³ Weight: 15,000 tons Cost: €800+ million Why is new Transmission Technology needed? 2050: Booming Electricity Demand – decarbonisation, electric vehicles, heat pumps, data centres

• Electrical energy demand will double by 2050 compared to todays demand

• More than 450 GW of offshore wind power will be needed

• More than 800 GW of new will be required

• The best renewable resources are found at the peripheries of Europe

• Transmission is a major constraint for the level of renewables required for deep decarbonisation

• No clarity on transmission capacity for future past 2030 Why aren’t we fixing the problem today? TSOs have so far been able to free up capacity on the grid and facilitate high levels of RES-e

• Transmission is a regulated monopoly with incentives around cost control and security of supply, which disincentivises transformative innovation • TSOs believe in “Evolution not revolution” • General consensus amongst developers that an offshore grid is required for large installed capacities of offshore wind. • Until now, the market and supply chain have not been optimised for connecting remote renewables at scale • SuperNode’s technology increases the power density of cables and can reduce the size and weight of equipment needed, and therefore drastically reduce the cost. Next Step for Transmission?

69 Key Technology

• HVDC Converters can be configured to handle more current/power but cables are a constraint.

• Superconductivity can remove this bottleneck and reduce the size, weight, and therefore cost.

• Superconductivity operates with zero resistance and thus has no electrical losses Properties of Superconductivity

• Zero Electrical Resistance - When a superconducting material is cooled below its critical temperature, its electrical resistance reduces to zero.

• High Power Density – Superconductors can carry significantly higher levels of current and thus are capable of the transmission of higher power levels than copper • A lower voltage can be used to carry the same amount of power as a copper cable. Ie for 1GW: Superconducting cable (100kV, 10kA) vs Copper cable (500kV, 2kA)

• Smaller Right of Way – As superconducting cables has a smaller cross-section and the right of way required for their installation is much smaller than comparable copper cables. • The high power capability means that a single link can replace a conventional solution with several links of greater footprint for bulk power transmission

• Lower Cost - For bulk power transmission applications, the cost of a superconducting system is substantially cheaper than conventional technology. Where do we start? The underlying technology of the future grid; starting with marine superconducting cable systems

Cable manufacturers and utilities already have a growing number of operational superconducting cable projects underway

SuperNode is redesigning this technology for marine applications, where the renewable resources are greatest, and for longer distances to link markets Does it work? Existing superconducting projects support SuperNode; density of project, portfolio of projects

• Implemented by Nexans & Innogy

• 1km cable length

• Solves an urban density problem

• Operational over 5years Does it work? Existing superconducting projects support SuperNode; density of project, portfolio of projects

Shingal Project, South Korea • Implemented by LS Cables and KEPCO • 1km cable length • Solves an urban density problem • 23 kV, connecting two 154 kV substations • Commissioned 2019 Problem & Solution This Level of Renewables Requires a SuperGrid Ireland – A Market needing a kickstart A Case Study on Irelands potential

• Ireland has a 10:1 sea:land ratio with some of the best wind speeds in Europe off its west coast.

• Existing grid is not of sufficient scale to harness our renewable potential. No capacity available for offshore wind farms

• Offshore Wind has been stalled with a target of 3.5GW by 2030 – OREDP found potential for 40+GW

• Ireland has a huge resource and not enough demand

• Eamon Ryan: “The age of “the ” has arrived and will play a major role in decarbonising the world and ultimately bring cheaper electricity to consumers” PROTECTING EUROPEAN CIVILISATION: EUROPE’S SUPERGRID

Eddie O’Connor Marcos Byrne