Renewable power output has elevated by 500% however key components restrict progress
Renewable energy has developed massively over the previous few years however the sector wants extra funding to boost the UK’s power safety, an analyst has stated.
Michael Meakin-Blackwell, enterprise providers director at MHA, informed Express.co.uk the UK’s renewables capability has come a good distance however extra improvement is required.
He stated: “The lack of development and investment within the transmission infrastructure network is hindering the sector’s potentially exponential growth.
“For example, significant curtailment costs and expenses associated with requesting assets to stop generating are a direct result of the insufficient transmission network.
“This lack of development means there is an urgent need to speed up infrastructure to enhance the UK’s energy security.”
He defined how the UK has elevated its renewable power era by 500 % since 2010. Connected battery capability for the UK on the finish of July 2023 was at virtually 3GW, or 3.5GWh.
This compares effectively to the US the place within the second quarter of 2023 that they had simply 12.689GW of put in battery storage capability, regardless of being a a lot bigger nation.
Wind energy within the UK additionally made up simply over 1 / 4 of all electrical energy era in 2022.
A report commissioned by the Energy Secretary, printed final month, highlighted the necessity to velocity up the creation of electrical energy transmission infrastructure in Great Britain.
The examine really helpful dashing up the supply of those property from a 14-year interval to seven years.
Mr Meakin-Blackwell stated: “In order to speed up the process to seven years, there needs to be clear and consistent messaging from the Government on how this can be achieved.
“It is also vital the UK population understands the need for this development and how the interaction with renewable assets actually happens, so the Government can help to assist this.”
He stated a key benefit of investing in renewables is it is going to scale back the UK’s dependence on the wholesale worldwide power market.
He defined: “By investing in renewables, and reducing our need for fossil fuels, we can become less reliant on the wholesale market, which in turn could lower our energy bills in the future and provide more consistency.
“Increasing our data analytics via smart meter installations, where Ofgem have mandated targets to suppliers, will also help us understand our energy bills more and allow us to reduce our reliance on fossil fuel generated electricity.
“However, this is likely to be a longer-term benefit as right now we are continuing to build up our renewable assets and develop our transmission networks.”
He cited one other current report commissioned by Ofgem which discovered there was a possible £51billion saving for customers between 2025 and 2040 by switching to a nodal pricing technique.
The power knowledgeable stated: “In a nodal system, pricing is on a micro, regional level although this would create regional disparities in pricing.
“However, more research could be done into this to ensure that renewable energy is utilised and that consumers get a fair deal.”
He stated storage options are significantly necessary for wind and tidal energy as they don’t produce fixed energy.
He stated: “Tidal power will fluctuate due to movements in high/low tide and wind power generation is dependent on variable wind speeds.
“To make the most out of tidal and wind energy, storage solutions should be developed. The technology behind storage solutions will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the energy captured and ultimately ensure that the power generated by wind and tidal isn’t lost or curtailed.”
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