UK-wide wind power: Extreme and Variability

Reference Number

NIA_NGET0016

Title

UK-wide wind power: Extreme and Variability

Status

Completed

Energy Categories

Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy)
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Research Types

Applied Research and Development

Science and Technology Fields

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Applied Mathematics)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences)

UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation

Not Cross-cutting

Principal Investigator

Project Contact
National Grid Electricity Transmission

Award Type

Network Innovation Allowance

Funding Source

Ofgem

Start Date

01 August 2012

End Date

01 May 2014

Duration

21 months

Total Grant Value

£140,000

Industrial Sectors

Power

Region

London

Programme

Network Innovation Allowance

Investigators

Principal Investigator

Project Contact, National Grid Electricity Transmission

Web Site

Objectives

Each of these weather events will cause significant challenges to the safe and secure operation of the national electricity transmission system and it is anticipated that this project will enable analysis to be performed and knowledge gained on the frequency, severity and duration of such events. This knowledge will allow National Grid to begin adapting its business-operating model to ensure extreme scenarios are effectively managed when they occur. The success criteria for this project include the completion of by 3 specific deliverables: Preliminary report: Initial documentation describing the specific meteorological metrics ("critical wind properties") associated with extreme power system events, identified and designed in discussion with National Grid Mid-project report: Update on reanalysis surface wind dataset validation exercise Discussion of preliminary results of "critical wind properties" exercise (identifying the statistics and behaviour of these properties in the reanalysis dataset). This will focus on assessing the statistics of raw meteorological properties (e.g. , wind speed) rather than transforming it into energy system properties (e.g. , wind power output). Final report: Results of reanalysis surface wind speed verification exercise (recap)Results of "critical wind properties" exercise, emphasising the nature and interesting features of the three extreme phenomena and their impact on the energy system Identification of aspects for future research

Abstract

The generation mix in the UK is changing; controllable large thermal generation units located relatively close to centres of electricity demand are being closed down. Dispersed intermittent, predominantly wind generation located towards the periphery of the network are being developed. This is radically changing the nature of system management and increasing the complexity of the problem. Knowledge about generation patterns and network flows are essential to the appropriate placement of network outages as well as balancing the cost and risks of procuring necessary energy reserves.

Wind Power Forecasts (WPF) have become essential to the safe and economic operation of the GB transmission system. As experience has been gained in the process of generating forecasts and improving their accuracy it has become apparent that there is a need to better understand the risks associated with extreme meteorological events.

This project will generate knowledge about extreme wind events and represent an essential first step in a chain of work to understanding how such events effecting security of electricity of supply in Great Britain. The study will investigate three types of extreme events:

high wind events (where the wind speed is in excess of the normal operating speed of a wind farm (usually 25 m/s at a turbine height of 60m above ground level)
transition and ramping events (where wind speed is rapidly changing and gusty)
prolonged low wind events ( where the wind speed is low for several days)

Investigation into these events will enable analysis to be performed and knowledge gained on the frequency, severity and duration of such events. This knowledge will allow National Grid to begin adapting its business-operating model to ensure extreme scenarios are effectively managed when they occur.

Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

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Added to Database

17/12/18