Launching ‘Sun, Wind & Wires’: A coffee-table textbook on the energy transition

‘Sun, Wind & Wires’ focusses on the electrical energy system. The core element of the book is an actor-layer model: Instead of the classic energy industry value chain, it shows the central energy industry actors and highlights the relationships between them – in fact, it does so four times – in four so-called layers. Physics: How does electricity flow? – Market: How is electricity traded? – Data: What information must be exchanged to make the market possible? and Rules: Which regulatory framework applies? The actor-layer is supplemented by eighteen ‘deep-dive’ texts which explain central topics, namely: Current and voltage, grid operating equipment, the copper plate, frequency, grid congestion management, balancing power, ancillary services, the balancing group, merit order, the German EEG law, unbundling, decentralisation, smart meters, electricity billing, the European electricity market, and the European regulatory context.

After wonderful feedback on the 1st edition of the book (2021), RGI and 50Hertz have worked together with the original authors from the Department of Energy Systems at TU Berlin and the WindNODE network to present the English edition, but also an updated second edition of the German original. Both versions are available as a free download on sunwindwires.com or can be ordered as a beautiful hardcover coffee-table book on the same website.