The key drivers behind this project are:
- Reduction in EU/German electricity supply capacity due to nuclear phase-out and retirement of ageing and polluting thermal plant requires additional generation capacity.
- EU Directive 2009/28/EU establishes obligations for member states to comply with renewable energy targets by 2020; it is envisaged that similar obligations will be set for subsequent periods.
- Many EU Governments including that of Germany have set more ambitious targets than required by the EU Directives; in Germany the target is for 35% of all energy to be derived from renewables by 2022, and 80% by 2050.
- Electricity demand predicted to grow as a consequence of switching of energy use (e.g. transportation from fossil fuels to electricity).
- Increasing proportion of electricity generation in EU from intermittent generation technologies (primarily wind and solar energy). The main resource for wind in the EU is concentrated is a relatively small area (UK and North Sea) which can be affected by a single weather system.
- Future “Smart Grid” technology will enable the Transmission System Operator to manage the load to match short-term supply variation; this will be supplemented by short-term storage (pumped storage and batteries). However dependable predictable generation sources (such as tidal power) will be needed for supply security.