Britain will have too much electricity this summer due to the growth in wind and solar farms, National Grid has forecast, warning it could be forced to issue unprecedented emergency orders to power plants to switch off. Businesses will also be paid to shift their power demand to times when there is surplus electricity, as the UK energy system struggles to cope with the huge expansion in subsidised renewable power. National Grid, which is responsible for balancing Britain’s power supply and demand, warned that operating the system at times of low demand was “becoming increasingly challenging”, in part due to the growth of “intermittent power capacity” such as wind and solar farms.
Telegraph 7th April 2016 read more »
HOSPITALS, data centres, growers, refrigeration firms and other businesses that produce their own electricity through back-up power generators are being asked to help even out peaks and troughs in the National Grid. Edinburgh-based Flexitricity is offering £4.5m of contracts to businesses that can help it meet a commitment of providing 260 megawatts of power from October 2018. Companies can earn up to £60,000 per megawatt supplied to the grid. Businesses are also rewarded for reducing consumption at peak times to ease demand on the grid. National Grid has confirmed it will invest up to £400m a year in demand response by 2020.
Herald 8th April 2016 read more »