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STA welcomes report which forecasts renewables intermittancy costs will be low
The STA has welcomed a report by the UK Energy Research Centre ( UKERC ) which shows the cost of integrating intermittent renewables into the grid is low . The UKERC report draws on a comprehensive review of the integration costs of variable renewables and concludes that these costs are modest , that they need to be understood in context and that all technologies have a system cost . It shows that for intermittent penetrations of up to 20 per cent of electricity supply most studies estimate that costs are less than £ 5 / MWh of intermittent output , in some cases very substantially less . Leonie Greene , Head of External Affairs at the STA said : “ The UKERC report is timely . It amplifies industry calls on Government and the regulator to accelerate opening up UK markets for flexibility technologies , such as storage and Demand Side Response . This will ensure that a clean development pathway for transport , as well as power , remains as cheap as possible for consumers . “ There has naturally been interest in the cost implications of incorporating new technologies like solar into our grids . This report joins many others concluding the costs of doing so are modest , and will remain so if our system is more flexible going forwards . Furthermore , storage is rapidly reducing in price . Solar boasts an extraordinary synergy with storage and the two technologies combined allow output to match demand requirements exceptionally closely , transforming integration costs into a potential net benefit . “ This debate has contributed to some inertia for solar power , which now cannot access wholesale markets despite its low cost . We now need action . There is widespread consensus now across the global energy sector on the direction of travel . The quicker the UK moves to unlock solar and flexibility markets the bigger the potential economic wins . That applies not only at home — UK industries will have a tremendous advantage in what will be a colossal world market if we move early .” The UKERC report , based on a systematic review of the literature on the costs
and impacts of intermittent generation , concludes : “ None of the studies reviewed in our assessment suggest that intermittency is a major obstacle to the integration of renewable sources of electricity supply . “ Almost all of the literature deals with the impacts of intermittency using a statistical representation of the main factors , or through simulation models based upon statistical principles . At the levels of penetration foreseeable in the next 20 years , it is neither necessary nor appropriate to allocate dedicated ‘ back up ’ or reserve plant to individual renewable generators when these are integrated into modern electricity networks . Nevertheless additional capacity is likely to be needed . “ The primary impacts and costs introduced through connecting increasing amounts of intermittent supply arise from additional system balancing actions and the need to install or maintain capacity to ensure reliability of supplies . “ These costs arise from the need to schedule additional response and reserve plant to manage unpredicted fluctuations on the timescale from minutes to hours . “ Our analysis suggests that adding intermittent generation to the British electricity network will impose a capacity / reliability cost of less than £ 5 / MWh with a 20 per cent penetration of intermittent generation , with a range that starts a little above £ 3 / MWh .”
Contents
NEWS 3-6 NEWS FEATURE 9-10 But which renewables technologies will have the most impact on the industry ? NEWS 9 STA to battle on following Budget disappointment OPINION 10-11 Government urged to ensure affordable smart meter tariffs . Plus , the 10-year rollercoaster ride for the Photon Energy company and the solar PV sector .
MANUFACTURER FOCUS 12-15 Award-winning SolarWATT shows why research and safety really pay off PRODUCTS 18-19 The best products on the renewables market COMMERCIAL 20-21 Major projects focusing on renewable innovative CASE STUDIES 22-23 Innovative projects from around the UK COMMUNITY 24-25 Specialist support for community energy groups arrives in Dorset ENERGY EFFICIENCY 26-27 Students pioneer energy use
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