Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Can renewable energy provide reliable power? Will it need extensive backup?The energy available from wind, waves, tides and the sun varies in ways that may not match variations in energy demand. Assimilating these fluctuations can affect the operation and economics of electricity networks, markets and the output of other forms of generation. Is this a significant problem, or can these new sources be integrated into the grid system without the need for extensive backup or energy storage capacity?This book examines the significance of the issue of variability of renewable electricity supplies, and presents technical and operational solutions to the problem of reconciling the differing patterns of supply and demand. Its chapters are authored by leading experts in the field, who aim to explain and quantify the impacts of variability in renewable energy, and in doing so, dispel many of the myths and misunderstandings surrounding the topic.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• List of Figures and Tables (p. ix)
• List of Contributors (p. xiv)
• Preface (p. xix)
• Acknowledgements (p. xxi)
• List of Acronyms and Abbreviations (p. xxii)
• 1 Variable Renewables and the Grid: An Overview (p. 1)
• Introduction (p. 1)
• Renewable energy source variability (p. 2)
• Grid operational requirements (p. 11)
• Base-load capacity displacement with increasing wind penetration (p. 14)
• Conclusions (p. 27)
• 2 Wind Power on the Grid (p. 31)
• Introduction (p. 31)
• Electricity system operation (p. 31)
• Wind characteristics (p. 36)
• Managing a network with wind (p. 38)
• Capacity credits (p. 41)
• Total extra costs of wind energy (p. 45)
• Wind energy penetration levels above 20 per cent (p. 47)
• The influence of national and regional differences (p. 49)
• Conclusions (p. 51)
• 3 Renewable Resource Characteristics and Network Integration (p. 55)
• Introduction (p. 55)
• Renewable electricity generation in the UK (p. 55)
• Characteristics (p. 58)
• Renewable electricity supply and demand patterns (p. 63)
• The role of wind power in providing capacity on electricity networks (p. 67)
• Conclusions (p. 71)
• 4 The UK Energy Research Centre Review of the Costs and Impacts of Intermittency (p. 73)
• Introduction (p. 73)
• Power system reliability and operation (p. 74)
• Misconceptions and sources of controversy (p. 77)
• Quantitative findings on impacts and costs (p. 79)
• Summary of findings and conclusions (p. 86)
• 5 Wind Power Forecasting (p. 95)
• Introduction (p. 95)
• Applications of wind power forecasting (p. 97)
• Steps in a forecasting system (p. 97)
• Numerical weather prediction (p. 98)
• Different approaches to the power output forecast (p. 99)
• Forecast horizon (p. 101)
• Regional upscaling (p. 103)
• Smoothing effect (p. 105)
• Forecast accuracy (p. 107)
• Example: The Wind Power Management System (WPMS) (p. 110)
• 'Learning curve' of forecasting accuracy (p. 112)
• Examples of current research (p. 113)
• Future challenges (p. 117)
• 6 Flexibility of Fossil Fuel plant in a Renewable Energy Scenario: Possible Implications for the UK (p. 121)
• Introduction (p. 121)
• The UK power plant system of today (p. 123)
• Advanced generating plants, energy savings and the issue of climate change (p. 124)
• Design and operation of coal- and natural gas-powered steam plants (p. 125)
• Pseudo-intermittency with today's plants (p. 130)
• Effects on plant components and reliability (p. 132)
• Intermittency and power plants of the future (p. 136)
• Conclusions (p. 140)
• 7 The Potential Contribution of Emergency Diesel Standby Generators in Dealing with the Variability of Renewable Energy Sources (p. 143)
• Introduction: Wessex Water (p. 143)
• The National Grid Transco Frequency Service (p. 143)
• The National Grid Transco Reserve Service (p. 144)
• Reserve and standby generating capacity on the UK National Grid (p. 144)
• 'Triads': A revenue-earning opportunity (p. 146)
• Other benefits: Testing diesels off load (p. 147)
• 8 Demand Flexibility, Micro-Combined Heat and Power and the 'Informated' Grid (p. 151)
• Introduction (p. 151)
• What is needed (p. 152)
• What is on offer (p. 153)
• Metering and the future (p. 155)
• 9 A Renewable Electricity System for the UK (p. 157)
• Introduction (p. 157)
• Scenario context (p. 159)
• A sustainable electricity system (p. 162)
• System integration and optimization (p. 167)
• Conclusions (p. 178)
• 10 Reliable Power, Wind Variability and Offshore Grids in Europe (p. 181)
• Where are the wind resources? (p. 181)
• What happens when the wind does not blow? (p. 183)
• The reliability of dispersed offshore wind power (p. 187)
• Effect of wind farm power output forecasting (p. 190)
• Delivered cost estimates for new grid and wind farms (p. 190)
• Results for Europe (p. 193)
• A Project for Europe: European-wide Supergrid (p. 194)
• Conclusions (p. 198)
• 11 Planning for Variability in the Longer Term: The Challenge of a Truly Sustainable Energy System (p. 201)
• Introduction (p. 201)
• Renewable source-dominated energy supply systems (p. 202)
• Energy storage and demand-side management (p. 204)
• Conclusions and further research (p. 209)
• Index (p. 211)

Author notes provided by Syndetics