Varios informes británicos, que tienen un gran valor, por referirse a una isla, han cuestionado el mito de la intermitencia. La eólica puede y debe suponer un porcentaje creciente del suministro eléctrico.
La British Wind Energy Association señala que Managing Variability, elaborado por Greanpeace, WWF y Amigos de la Tierra, se remite a otros dos estudios: el del operador del sistema británico equivalente a REE en España, National Grid, titulado Operating the system beyond 2020 y el informe Poyry, "Impact of intermittency: How wind variability could change the shape of the British and Irish electricity markets".
Un sistema eléctrico con una penetración eólica de un 20% puede gestionar la aleatoriedad por un coste adicional de dos libras por megavatio hora (2,32 euros MWh). Para una penetración de un 40%, los costos ascienden a entre cinco y siete libras el MWh, según la capacidad de interconexión internacional y cómo estén distribuidos los parques en relación a los centros de consumo. El informe señala que dichos costes pueden reducirse en función del futuro desarrollo de técnicas para la gestión de la demanda y la incorporación de redes inteligentes.
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Intermittency not a problem for wind power
MYTH OF ‘INTERMITTENCY’ DEBUNKED BY MAJOR REPORT
Third report in as many weeks comprehensively dismisses variability as obstacle to wind energy deployment
The third report in as many weeks to dismiss variability as an obstacle to large scale deployment of wind energy was published today by a coalition of environmental NGO’s. BWEA, the uks leading renewable energy trade association, welcomed the findings of ‘Managing Variability’, which resonate with the conclusions of two other independent studies published in June this year by National Grid, and earlier in July by Poyry.
As strong evidence accumulated from grid operators across Europe that it is within existing technical capabilities to manage input from wind farms in real time, the report noted that “thermal plant breakdowns generally pose more of a threat to the stability of electricity networks than the relatively benign variations in the output of wind plant.” The report also noted that “contributions of up to 40% or more of electricity consumption can be managed with quantifiable – and modest – ‘variability costs’.”
Maria McCaffery, BWEA Chief Executive, said: “For some years now BWEA has been saying that managing variability is neither a major technological challenge, nor is it set to significantly impact consumer bills. In fact, added renewable energy capacity on the system will ensure against fossil fuel price volatility.”
The report quantified the total costs of variability to the electricity consumer at just £2 per MWh or 2% on electricity bills at penetration levels of 20%, with cost at £5 to £7 per MWh at deployment levels of 40%. The report also looks at further mitigating these costs by having increased demand-side management, as well as smart and super grid integration.
“This report is the final nail in the coffin of the myth of intermittency. We now need to move on and do more to have increased amounts of wind energy on the system, in as short a time as possible. As a source of energy wind is free and manageable. Integration costs will be more then offset by insuring ourselves from the inevitable rises in fossil fuel prices, and we could be looking at net savings as we deploy more wind,” concluded McCaffery.
National Grid said it welcomed the report.
“We welcome this report and the way that it highlights the implications of integrating wind into our electricity network,” said National Grid future transmission networks manager Chris Bennett.
“The report complements the consultation document that National Grid issued in June which highlighted the different solutions available to ensure a safe secure and economic supply of electricity is maintained.”
Friends of the Earth and co-commissioners Greenpeace, RSPB and WWF are calling on the UK Government to put in place funding and incentives to encourage investment in much more wind power and to grant priority access to the energy market and the electricity grid.
They claim wind energy is a key technology to help the UK meet its target of 15% renewable energy by 2020.
Friends of the Earth is also joining forces with trade union Unite to call on the Government to save the country’s wind power jobs.
“Investment is needed in the renewables industry to ensure it survives the recession. The Government talks about how green jobs will help the country climb out of the recession, so we hope they will take action,” said Unite deputy general secretary Jack Dromey.
Today’s report sets out how wind power does not need large amounts of extra conventional – fossil, nuclear or gas – energy backup to stop the lights going out. While the instant loss of a large conventional power station is a real risk, it is extremely unlikely that the same amount of wind will disappear instantaneously, it says.
“The National Grid is more than able to manage the variable input created by wind power, as it is already designed to manage fluctuations in demand and supply – variations in wind power are considerably less than variations in consumer demand, which can vary on an hourly basis according to the weather, rush hour and even TV scheduling.
“There are no significant costs associated with managing variability – If the UK meets its renewable energy targets and within this provides 32% of our electricity from wind by 2020, it will only add £2 to every £100 spent by consumers.
“New technology would reduce this slight increase in price even more, and would reduce the need for fossil fuel station back up – technologies already exist which can hep manage the variability of wind energy and reduce associated costs, and these can be expanded upon . More accurate wind forecasting could help reduce these costs by as much as 30%.
“Wind power will provide significant job opportunities in the UK – there are already 400,000 people working in the wind-energy sector worldwide and this could reach one million by the end of the decade,” it says.
The British Wind Energy Association backed the report.
“For some years now BWEA has been saying that managing variability is neither a major technological challenge, nor is it set to significantly impact consumer bills,” said BWEA chief executive Maria McCaffery.
“In fact, added renewable energy capacity on the system will ensure against fossil fuel price volatility.”
“This report is the final nail in the coffin of the myth of intermittency. We now need to move on and do more to have increased amounts of wind energy on the system, in as short a time as possible.
“As a source of energy wind is free and manageable. Integration costs will be more then offset by insuring ourselves from the inevitable rises in fossil fuel prices, and we could be looking at net savings as we deploy more wind,” concluded McCaffery.
assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/managing__variability_report.pdf
