Scotland trialling "local constraint market"

[dan_b]

Scottish Grid to trial paying local users to increase their electricity demand during periods of high wind generation to help reduce grid constraint and curtailment.

https://www.axle.energy/blog/analysis/l ... int-market

[Joeboy]

Sounds good, hopefully an Octopus/Axle JV at some point.

[nowty]

Only in Scotland.

Me thinks the baselining calculation would benefit battery users.

"Baselining: volume increase measured against a baseline of energy consumption in the 12 hours before and after an event."

[Joeboy]

Only in Scotland.

Me thinks the baselining calculation would benefit battery users.

"Baselining: volume increase measured against a baseline of energy consumption in the 12 hours before and after an event."

Ach well, got an extension lead?
This popped up, again Axle & Easee one (which I have). No point pursuing though as I'm in Octopus for Ripple. It is a good idea though if they can all play nice together and get the benefit to the consumer. I likes it!

[nowty]

You should still be able to sign up with a non supplier provider as its similar to the Demand Flexibility service (aka Saving Sessions), you just cannot participate in more than one flexibility service.

[Joeboy]

You should still be able to sign up with a non supplier provider as its similar to the Demand Flexibility service (aka Saving Sessions), you just cannot participate in more than one flexibility service.

Oh?
Good to know, tbh I'd rather keep all my eggs in the Octopus basket. I kind of like them and they were first with a lot. Call me daft for loyalty.

Thanks Nowty, the pint is still on for Kirkhill open day?

[Joeboy]

Just today, thought it was like a Swan on a pond, not quite the case! Incredible what goes on in a single day.

[John_S]

It won't affect me as I am not in Scotland.

However, reading the link, I am confused (not difficult, I admit). The headline idea is that more electricity is used in Scotland so that wind generators can still operate and get paid when there is a constraint on how much electricity can flow south.

The rest of the link reads more as if it is constraining usage in Scotland by time shifting it to other periods.

Also, I don't understand the bit about paying three times for electricity.

"When we’re generating more wind power than we can transmit, the National Grid ESO pays, via the Balancing Mechanism, for the wind farms to turn off, and pays a (typically gas powered) alternative generator, closer to the demand, to turn on. Consumers end up effectively paying three times for the power they’re getting: the original payment to the wind farm for the electricity, the payment to turn off, and then the payment to the alternative generator."

Why is the wind generator being paid twice? I can understand them being paid, at the moment, what they would have got if they were not constrained, but not that and a payment to switch off.

I read of wind farm projects and connection requests for multiple times the UK maximum demand. What is going to happen when they all get connected? Eg 50+GW of available supply and only 40GW of demand.

[Ken]

When the wind has contracted to supply and the Nat Grid wants to renege its has to pay regardless -it is a contract. They then have to pay for the physical shutting down of the turbines including any consequences of doing so eg wear and tear. And they have to pay for the gas generation further south. Seems OK to me.

The alternative is for the grid not to enter into a contract but that is difficult when no one knows what the production is going to be.- The crystal ball does not work that far ahead.

Anyway the Nat Grid is not interested in the cost it is mandated to supply leccy 24/7 almost regardless of cost.

[nowty]

Why is the wind generator being paid twice? I can understand them being paid, at the moment, what they would have got if they were not constrained, but not that and a payment to switch off.

Its not very well worded, but if they voluntarily switch off via the Balancing Mechanism I believe they get paid a premium amount as an incentive. In that case the words make sense.