offshore wind

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Editor’s Pick | Is ESB’s market dominance still a concern?

    The Electricity Supply Board (ESB). It doesn’t take too long venturing into the Irish energy sector before one encounters this company. Founded in 1927, the former monopoly provider was responsible for rural electrification in 1946. ESB group companies own the network and participate in generation and supply markets. In the...

  • Announcement

    Gareth Miller’s Interview at Inspiratia Offshore Wind Conference 2019

    Our CEO, Gareth Miller, was interviewed at the Inspiratia Offshore Wind Conference 2019, where he discussed his thoughts on a range of issues affecting the market today. Talking about his expectations on the contract for difference (CfD) allocation round three, Gareth said that Cornwall Insight Benchmark Power Curve models suggest that we...

  • Announcement

    Inspiratia Offshore wind conference

    Our CEO, Gareth Miller, spoke at the Inspiratia Offshore wind conference held on May 16th. He opened the first session of the conference by setting the scene for a panel session on the competitive dynamics and timetable for CfD Allocation Round 3. He highlighted the likelihood of offshore wind dominating...

  • Announcement

    New: Benchmark Power Curve service launched

    Cornwall Insight has recently launched its new Benchmark Power Curve (CI BPC) service to complement its already deep set of wholesale research subscription services. The CI BPC is a comprehensive market and asset-level power price modelling service that delivers long-term price forecasts, informed by industry-leading regulatory, market and policy expertise,...

  • Low carbon generation

    Easter weekend – a glimpse into the future for wholesale power?

    In what has previously been a rare occurrence on the GB transmission system, the minimum daytime demand dropped below night time minimum demand twice in succession over the Easter weekend, as high levels of embedded solar generation reduced the need for grid connected energy production. In this blog we look...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Five things we learnt from Energy Spectrum | 657

    An increasing number of interventions, including new mutualisation events, are likely to cause shocks in energy third party charges in the coming years. That is the conclusion of this week’s Energy Perspective, in which we explore the current level of these costs for policy and networks, focussing on changes for...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Five things we learnt from Energy Spectrum | Issue 653

    We present five key themes and findings from this week’s edition of Energy Spectrum issue 653 The commissioning of the 1GW NEMO link interconnector, linking the GB power market to Belgium, on 31 January marks the start of a potential wave of new development that could see total cross-border capacity...

  • Low carbon generation

    When the Wild Wind Blows… time for offshore wind?

    On 22 January 2019, an announcement was made that ESB and Parkwind, which has been developing the Oriel Offshore Wind project off the coast of Louth, have entered into a partnership for the Oriel project, as well as ESB’s Clogherhead project. This has been a welcome announcement in light of...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    Clarity on Capacity Market renewable ratings, but gap in government policy remains

    On 7 January, National Grid ESO published its consultation on the new de-rating factor methodology to be used for renewables participating in the Capacity Market (CM). The document forms a key part of the five-year review of the CM, for which a government call for evidence was published in August 2018.   In previous...

  • Low carbon generation

    Don’t you (forget about me): a future without coal in SEM?

    Record-setting daily wind generation output, increasing installed wind capacity and new renewable electricity support schemes all make for great headlines. However, the reality that 42% of generation in SEM last month came from renewables doesn’t feel like the exception, but the rule.   This high, and importantly, consistent wind output...

  • Low carbon generation

    Clarity urgently needed to unlock Ireland’s offshore wind potential

    Ireland has some of Europe’s best wind resource. And yet, the large-scale deployment of the technology has fallen behind other markets largely as a result of a lack of strong policy support – it is more than 14 years since Arklow Bank, the country’s only operational wind farm was fully...

  • Low carbon generation

    Sunny afternoon – Ireland’s wind drought

    As the sun continues to bathe Ireland and Northern Ireland, spare a thought for the System Operator (SO). This enduring, recent (and unlikely) spell of good weather has a noticeable impacted on renewable generation across the island. What Met Éireann termed “dry, settled weather” is due to a high-pressure system...

  • Low carbon generation

    Wholesale price “cannibalisation effect” puts economics of renewables at risk

    Our research has revealed that as capacity and output from solar and windfarm projects increases in coming years, the “cannibalisation effect” is set to lower wholesale power prices to the extent that by the 2030s it could put at risk the viability of future renewables. With the withdrawal of government...

  • Low carbon generation

    Q118 FiT costs confirmed at £290mn

    Suppliers were invoiced for Q118 (January – March) Feed-in Tariff levelisation on 25 April, confirming total scheme costs for the quarter at just under £290mn. This consisted of £281.7mn in generation payments, £7.7mn in deemed export payments and £0.3mn in qualifying costs that help cover the supplier cost to administer...

  • Low carbon generation

    Into the great wide open: evaluating Irish offshore wind

    Renewables growth in Ireland has been a story with one key protagonist – onshore wind. Its offshore cousin has not progressed beyond a single operational project – the 25MW Arklow Bank installation. This development lacuna has occurred despite the significant resource available offshore in Irish waters. The Strategic Environmental Assessment...

  • Low carbon generation

    Invisible Touch: Irish energy and the EIB

    Last week, ESB and Bord na Móna announced financial close on the 89MW Oweninny wind farm in Mayo. One interesting feature of the public statement was that the European Investment Bank (EIB) was providing 50% of the estimated €160mn investment. As discussed below, in recent years the EIB has not...

  • Commercial and market outlook

    This week’s Energy Spectrum overview | 23 April 2018

    In this week’s Energy Perspective, we examine the case put forward by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit for repowered onshore wind projects to be allowed into the Contract for Difference (CfD) scheme, as the UK’s first windfarms near the end of their expected lifespans. We explore the generation, volume...

  • Low carbon generation

    Ireland’s thermal plants sail into probing wind

    The level of wind penetration in Ireland is one of the highest in Europe. This has already had some major impacts on the market, including depressed wholesale prices; reduced running hours for some thermal plants; and curtailment of wind output. This week’s blog considers wider interactions of wind generation with...