Green, ethical, energy issues in the news

Martyn1981

Couple of short articles that give a quick review/summary of UK leccy generation/supply for 2025, and UK grid scale battery deployments.

GB power imports fall as wind hits record

Another record-breaking year for UK battery storage as 4GWh comes online

Martyn1981

Results for the offshore wind part of the CfD round 7 auction are out. Huge allocation of 8.4GW, and at a slightly higher subsidy price than round 6. Contracts issued ~£90/MWh, or ~£65 under the 2012 baseline (handy for comparing all results across all years), v's ~£59 for R6 allocation of ~3.4GW. The Gov news release suggests the latest offshore wind cost is ~40% cheaper than new gas generation.

Also a bit more floating capacity has been granted. The cost is very high at £216/MWh, but the 2012 baseline is £155, so remarkably close to the earliest 'normal' offshore wind contracts at ~£150. Fingers crossed that these 'floaters' will see similar cost reductions.

[The results for the other technologies are expected early Feb.]

Record breaking auction for offshore wind secured to take back control of Britain's energy

Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7 results


Guardian article:

Offshore windfarm contracts to fuel 12m homes in Great Britain after record auction

QrizB

Thanks Martyn - I saw the story on the BBC but the article was remarkably fact-free!

They've edited it since, to include a bit more detail.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9zyx150xdo

michaels

QrizB said:

Thanks Martyn - I saw the story on the BBC but the article was remarkably fact-free!

They've edited it since, to include a bit more detail.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9zyx150xdo

Martyn1981 said:

Results for the offshore wind part of the CfD round 7 auction are out. Huge allocation of 8.4GW, and at a slightly higher subsidy price than round 6. Contracts issued ~£90/MWh, or ~£65 under the 2012 baseline (handy for comparing all results across all years), v's ~£59 for R6 allocation of ~3.4GW. The Gov news release suggests the latest offshore wind cost is ~40% cheaper than new gas generation.

Also a bit more floating capacity has been granted. The cost is very high at £216/MWh, but the 2012 baseline is £155, so remarkably close to the earliest 'normal' offshore wind contracts at ~£150. Fingers crossed that these 'floaters' will see similar cost reductions.

[The results for the other technologies are expected early Feb.]

Record breaking auction for offshore wind secured to take back control of Britain's energy

Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7 results


Guardian article:

Offshore windfarm contracts to fuel 12m homes in Great Britain after record auction

Whilst I am in favour, it is pretty disingenuous to only compare the CFD strike price against the price of gas generation rather than also factoring in curtailment payments to give an actual average price per unit used.

Exiled_Tyke

QrizB said:

Thanks Martyn - I saw the story on the BBC but the article was remarkably fact-free!

They've edited it since, to include a bit more detail.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9zyx150xdo

Interesting article.  This particularly struck me.  "The government acknowledges the rising cost of offshore wind, but argues that it should be compared with the cost of new gas power plants.".  This appears entirely arbitrary - almost as sensible as the Trump tariff calculation methodology.   

Martyn1981

Exiled_Tyke said:

QrizB said:

Thanks Martyn - I saw the story on the BBC but the article was remarkably fact-free!

They've edited it since, to include a bit more detail.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9zyx150xdo

Interesting article.  This particularly struck me.  "The government acknowledges the rising cost of offshore wind, but argues that it should be compared with the cost of new gas power plants.".  This appears entirely arbitrary - almost as sensible as the Trump tariff calculation methodology.   

A cynical person might suggest they don't want to compare elsewhere, such as new nuclear (£127/MWh 35yr CfD contract), because they are supportive of it. 

Martyn1981

QrizB said:

Thanks Martyn - I saw the story on the BBC but the article was remarkably fact-free!

They've edited it since, to include a bit more detail.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9zyx150xdo

Good point though in the BBC article is this bit:

The government wants at least 43 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030 to help meet its clean power target.

That is a big step-up from its current offshore wind capacity, which stands at 16.6GW, with a further 11.7GW under construction, according to the government.

Building offshore wind and connecting it to the grid takes time – and many analysts have viewed this auction as crucial to get enough wind to meet its target.

The 8.4GW secured at this latest auction just about keeps the offshore wind target in reach, several analysts have told the BBC. But all those projects will still need connecting to the grid to generate electricity.

"Getting that amount of capacity online by 2030 [will be] extremely challenging," said Nick Civetta, project leader at the Aurora Energy Research think tank.

Even assuming AR8 & AR9 (but unlikley AR10 or AR11) can provide some generation for 2030, we won't be hitting those upper numbers for generation (v's approved/planned capacity) in 2030. This year's allocation will be the last (I assume?) where all of the capacity may be operational during 2030. In fact, 5/8ths is scheduled for 2030/31:

thevilla

Maybe HPC will be online 

QrizB

thevilla said:

Maybe HPC will be online 

Before or after HS2, that's the question!

gefnew

Is this any good to you all.
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