Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:36:53 +0000 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17719&Focus=300319#Comment_300319 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17719&Focus=300319#Comment_300319 Thu, 16 Feb 2023 20:00:56 +0000 WillInAberdeen
This IEA looked at the balance between: paying for storage and cables to avoid "wasting" (curtailing) any wind and solar power; against paying for over-capacity of windfarms and solar farms so there is always plenty of power available and the spare power can cheerfully be curtailed.

They think the cheapest power will come when about 30%-40% of all available renewable power is curtailed ("wasted"), because it is cheaper to build extra generation capacity where needed, than it is to build storage and interconnectors. But some of those are still needed to make renewables into a 'firm' (dispatchable) power supply.

The link in the OP says the UK is only curtailing 6% of wind power so far, so we've some way to go.


https://iea-pvps.org/key-topics/firm-power-generation/]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17719&Focus=300321#Comment_300321 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17719&Focus=300321#Comment_300321 Thu, 16 Feb 2023 20:47:53 +0000 djh Posted By: WillInAberdeenThis IEA looked at the balance between: paying for storage and cables to avoid "wasting" (curtailing) any wind and solar power; against paying for over-capacity of windfarms and solar farms so there is always plenty of power available and the spare power can cheerfully be curtailed.Unless there is some change in the rules, won't that lead to opportunities for opportunists to build wind farms in places most likely to be curtailed so they can be paid for curtailment whilst using the power for local hydrogen production or somesuch? ]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17719&Focus=300323#Comment_300323 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17719&Focus=300323#Comment_300323 Thu, 16 Feb 2023 21:33:00 +0000 WillInAberdeen
There was a comment somewhere about the UK has too much South-facing PV, because developers get paid the same FIT rate or CfD to produce power at noon as at any other time, so they maximised their income with S facing panels. We actually need more West and Southwest facing PV to generate at more useful times of day, so we need to change the subsidy regime to get that outcome.

Edit: I've been waiting, but still haven't seen any hydrogen electrolyser developers who are willing to only run during hours of cheap power. They seem to need to run 24/7/365 to cover their capital costs.]]> http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17719&Focus=300696#Comment_300696 http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=17719&Focus=300696#Comment_300696 Fri, 10 Mar 2023 12:52:32 +0000 WillInAberdeen
https://www.carbonbrief.org/ccc-heres-how-the-uk-can-get-reliable-zero-carbon-electricity-by-2035/

Quote:

"UK can build a reliable, secure and cost-effective electricity system that is decarbonised by 2035

based on new hour-by-hour modelling of the country’s electricity system out to 2035, which includes stress-tests of how it could ride out extended “wind droughts”.

In effect, the report is a 131-page answer to the question “But what about when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine?”

The CCC sees cheap – but variable – wind and solar meeting 70% of demand. While nuclear and biomass might meet another 20%, they are “relatively inflexible”.

The [remaining] 10% will largely come from batteries, storage and responsive demand... gaps lasting days to weeks at a time will be filled by gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS) and/or hydrogen power.

... the medium-term scarcity in hydrogen supply [required for backup power stations] will be even larger if the government prioritises using hydrogen to heat homes.”

End quote.]]>