PM WE22 55 Ostseeparlamentarierkonferenz English8

PRESS RELEASE55/2022 vom 29.08.2022 WEMAG AGPresse/ÖffentlichkeitsarbeitObotritenring 40 – 19053SchwerinTelefon: 0385 755-2289Renewables and grid expansion: feed-in and investments in theelectricity grid increaseWEMAG informs Baltic Sea parliamentarians about challenges in the energy transitionSchwerin, 29.08.2022. On 29 and 30 August 2022, the State Parliament of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will host the 6th session of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC)Working Group on Climate Change and Biodiversity. Around 40 parliamentarians, experts andyoung adults from across the Baltic Sea Region will come to Schwerin to discuss international,national and local best practices in the field of climate change mitigation and biodiversityprotection and to develop proposals for governments in the Baltic Sea Region.Before their meeting, the members of the BSPC Working Group on Climate Change andBiodiversity of the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference took the opportunity to visit theWEMAG battery storage facility in the state capital Schwerin. "The 10-megawatt lithium-ionstorage system stabilises short-term fluctuations in the grid frequency fully automatically withoperating reserves. This allows wind and solar power to be integrated into the existing grid,"explained WEMAG storage expert Tobias Struck during the tour.WEMAG is already making an important contribution to achieving the targets for energygeneration from renewable sources in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. At present, the renewableenergy plants from the WEMAG grid area supply a total output of just under 2,300megawatts (MW). The largest share is accounted for by wind turbines at 1,125 MW andphotovoltaic systems at 1,000 MW. Just based on the figures, it would already be possible tosupply all customers in WEMAG's grid area with electricity from renewable energy: measuredin terms of end customers, the Renewable Energy Act (EEG) feed-in quota in 2021 was 283percent. "That means we are already above the targets set by the German government for theyear 2050 and would be able to supply our customers only with electricity from renewable1sources," said Thomas Murche, technical director of WEMAG. For photovoltaic systemsalone, the amount fed into the WEMAG power grid in the first half of 2022 was almost500,000 MWh, compared to 283,000 MWh in the same period last year."We make it possible to integrate EEG plants. Extensive investments and maintenanceexpenditures are necessary in order to simultaneously ensure the reliable operation of ourelectricity grid. The transport demand of our network is increasing. This requires furtherexpansion of the grids at all voltage levels, of the substations and the transformer stations,"explained WEMAG board member Thomas Murche, who is also the guest speaker during themeeting of the BSPC Working Group in the plenary hall of Schwerin Castle. The goals ofclimate neutrality and security of supply require accelerating the expansion of renewableenergies and the electricity grid. "In 2021, we invested 42 million euros in our electricity grid.In order to meet the many demands for feeding energy into the grid, we will be additionallyinvesting about 330 million euros in grid expansion by 2025," Murche said. The biggestobstacle on this path is the time-consuming approval process, which, for example, takes aboutten years in the onshore sector."The expansion of renewable energies is currently more important than ever in Germany, inorder to become less dependent on energy imports," said Thomas Murche. An independentenergy supply also means more stable energy prices for our customers. As long as energysuppliers continue to be dependent on energy purchasing and import transactions, pricefluctuations can hardly be predicted and must be taken into account in the price calculationfor customers.With a view to the impending gas shortage and the energy price trend, the WEMAG boardmember pointed out that consumers switching from gas to electricity could lead tobottlenecks in the power grid. Therefore, an independent, climate-neutral energy supplyremains the overarching goal. It can only be achieved by not just accelerating expansion ofrenewable energy plants but also of the grid. "This requires immediate action by those withpolitical responsibility. We now need reliable framework conditions and room to manoeuvrefor generating the energy of the future and for transporting it to consumers," said WEMAGboard member Thomas Murche in conclusion.About WEMAGSchwerin-based WEMAG AG is a nationwide eco-energy supplier with regional roots andelectricity grid operations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and parts of Brandenburg and2Lower Saxony. Together with WEMAG Netz GmbH, it is responsible for around 15,000kilometers of power lines, from house connections to overhead lines.In addition to electricity, natural gas and network services, the energy company also suppliesits private and commercial customers with the planning and construction of photovoltaic andstorage systems, electromobility, Internet, telephone and digital and HD television from asingle source.The telecommunications company WEMACOM, founded in 1997, operates an extensivetelecommunications network in West Mecklenburg and, together with partners, builds fiber-optic networks for residential and business customers in the region.Regional ties, environmental protection and sustainability determine the actions of WEMAGAG. WEMAG AG makes substantial investments in renewable energies, advises on energyefficiency issues and offers the possibility of citizen participation through NorddeutscheEnergiegemeinschaft eG. WEMAG AG has been majority-owned by the municipalities in itssupply area since January 2010.Press Contact:Dr. Diana KuhrauPress officer of WEMAGHead of Corporate Communications and MarketingTel.: +49 385 755-2289Mobil: +49170 921-2289presse@wemag.comAddress: WEMAG AG, Obotritenring 40, 19053 Schwerinwww.wemag.comNews: www.wemagblog.comOur fan page: www.facebook.com/wemag3