Matching renewable electricity generation with demand in Scotland

• Main Author: Boehme, Thomas
• Published: University of Edinburgh 2006
• Subjects: 333
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.641750

The liberalisation of the electricity market and the political will to increase the percentage of renewable energy in the generation mix has led to favourable conditions for “green” energy. Scotland is particularly rich in wind and marine energy resources and the thesis of this study was that the country could meet a significant portion of its future demand for electricity from renewable sources. In this study, the location of onshore wind, offshore wind, wave and tidal current resources in Scotland and the physical, environmental and planning constraints for their development were mapped and the lifetime production costs of electricity generation at feasible locations were predicted. For a number of economically ranked renewable generation scenarios, hourly time series of power over a consecutive period of three years were analysed. The study showed that despite their variable nature, renewable sources could be developed so that they supply, on average, 40% of the Scottish demand for electricity by 2020. The study also showed that there will be many hours in a year when renewable generation does not coincide with demand resulting in excess or shortfall. Diversification of sources and their geographical dispersion are measures to achieve better matching. Further mitigation is possible through dedicated dispatching of hydro and pumped storage plant and through management of the power system.