National Grid has said it may have to curtail wind generation over the summer to balance the system, with electricity demand forecast to fall by nearly 2 per cent to its lowest levels on record. In its summer outlook report, Grid forecasted a peak demand of 35.7GW – a drop of nearly 2 per cent compared with 37.5GW last year. Minimum summer demand is forecast to be 18.1GW – a slight decrease from the 2015 demand of 18.4GW, while daytime minimum demand is expected to be 23.5GW, lower than the 2015 minimum of 25.8GW. The company said that while underlying demand is expected to remain broadly similar to last summer, demand on the transmission network will be lower because of the proliferation of embedded generation, particularly domestic solar PV.
Utility Week 9th April 2016 read more »
Businesses will be paid to use more electricity for the first time next month, as National Grid launches a scheme designed to boost the flexibility of the nation’s power system. Under the terms of a trial contract, dubbed Demand Turn Up, companies will be offered cash payments to absorb excess electricity generation, mainly from wind or solar power, at times of low demand. For example, if wind farms are producing a surplus of electricity at 4am on a windy night, companies that turn up their power usage at short notice will be paid a one-off fee per megawatt hour of electricity they use. The trial, which will start on May 1 and will run until the end of August, was oversubscribed, with 21 companies expressing interest, according to National Grid. Contracts will be awarded this month. Among those keen to take advantage are water companies, which may opt to switch on their hydraulic sewage pumps at odd times of the day or night. Hanson UK, the concrete and asphalt manufacturer, is also interested. Pumps used to remove water from its quarries will switch on when required.
Times 11th April 2016 read more »