Arnhem Electricity Week #AEW24: Peter Vaessen - The future of our grid is more exciting than ever
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Dec 3, 2024 Peter Vaessen, Innovation Director at KEMA Laboratories and a professor at Delft University, dives into the future of electricity grids. He discusses Tesla's impact on our current systems and highlights the shift towards renewable energy and electric vehicles. The conversation also covers the transition from manual to digital power systems, addressing the efficiency gains and potential instabilities of modern technology. Vaessen emphasizes the need for skilled labor and innovative robotics to overcome challenges in grid expansion and ensure a sustainable energy future by 2050.
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Missed Prediction
- Peter Vaessen revisited a paper he wrote in 1999 about the future power system in 2050.
- He realized he completely missed predicting the impact of solar power, though he did foresee wind power and local power generation.
Voltage Level Disparity
- Europe's highest voltage level is 400 kV, significantly lower than Asia's and the America's 800 kV.
- This lower voltage level poses a challenge to accommodate the increasing offshore wind energy and the European Union's ambitious renewable energy targets.
Decentralized Systems Limitations
- Relying solely on decentralized systems like rooftop solar panels and vehicle-to-grid technology is insufficient for future energy needs.
- Industries require substantial power, necessitating a robust transmission infrastructure like the proposed "electricity highway."