A challenge for a system with 70% renewable electricity, as posited in the Climate Action Plan (CAP), will be managing frequency. Recent experience of our neighbouring market, Great Britain (GB), suggests this challenge may have to be faced in the near term. GB experienced two frequency events during 11 July, which saw system frequency fall below the operational limits the system operator works between. This week’s blog looks at this event in more detail and highlights some considerations relevant for the Irish system.
Related thinking
Energy storage and flexibility
Waiting to connect: the problems and solutions for network connection queues (Part 2)
Network connection queues continue to be a notable topic of interest as many generators face significant delays to project development – an issue that is directly conflicting with net zero ambitions and recent focuses on strengthening domestic energy supplies. In Part 1 of our two-part series on connection queues we...
Energy storage and flexibility
Waiting to connect: the problems and solutions for network connection queues
The number of grid applications has risen significantly in recent years, resulting in increased pressure on the electricity networks to facilitate new connections. In its Energy Security Strategy, the UK government set out ambitions for 95% of electricity to be sourced from low carbon generation by 2030, and for the...
Power and gas networks
Gas DSR reforms ahead of winter 2022-23
National Grid has recently carried out a review of the Gas Demand Side Response (DSR) voluntary curtailment mechanism through July and August. The Gas DSR allows shippers to offer a consumption curtailment service to National Grid Gas (NGG) during periods of acute gas supply constraint called a Gas Deficit Emergency...
Energy storage and flexibility
Dialing up the unknowns on network charging
In a world of open governance code modifications, change is a constant. You only have to look at the number of code modifications ongoing at any one time – National Grid lists 36 modifications in development relating to transmission network charging alone – for evidence of that. But in recent...
Commercial and market outlook
Capacity, reform, and unlawful strategies: 5 things that happened yesterday
Capacity, reform, and unlawful strategies: yesterday was a busy day for energy geekery. The developments encapsulate the shorter and longer term challenges and uncertainties present in the energy market presently: Read the full article here
Low carbon generation
RESS 2 by numbers
Last Friday, RESS 2 auction results were published, with nearly 2GW of new renewables projects successful in getting awarded a contract. We have put together an infographic that explains the auction outcome and what these projects will bring to our electricity system. We have also released a report with Wind...
Business supply and services
Re-balancing the balancing costs –BSUoS charges to be levied solely on suppliers from April 2023
Balancing the electricity system costs money. National Grid in its role as Electricity System Operator (ESO) takes actions in every half hour to achieve the remarkable feat of keeping supply and demand finely balanced on our national electricity system – maintaining a system which runs between 49.8 and 50.2Hz with...
Energy storage and flexibility
Dynamic Regulation launches
National Grid ESO (NGESO) launched the Dynamic Regulation (DR) service on 8 April, with the first auction held at 14:30 on the EPEX auction platform. DR is the second new product that the ESO has introduced to manage frequency on the system, as the system operator introduces a suite of...
