The UK Solar Farm Fleet: A Challenge for the National Grid? †
Currently, in the UK, it is widely believed that supply from renewable energy sources is capable of reaching proportions too great for the transmission system. This research investigates this topic objectively by offering an understanding of year-to-year and area-to-area variability of PV (photovolt...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/8/1220 |
| _version_ | 1798039055094513664 |
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| author | Diane Palmer Elena Koubli Tom Betts Ralph Gottschalg |
| author_facet | Diane Palmer Elena Koubli Tom Betts Ralph Gottschalg |
| author_sort | Diane Palmer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Currently, in the UK, it is widely believed that supply from renewable energy sources is capable of reaching proportions too great for the transmission system. This research investigates this topic objectively by offering an understanding of year-to-year and area-to-area variability of PV (photovoltaic) performance, measured in terms of specific yield (kWh/kWp). The dataset is created using publicly available data that gives an indication of impact on the grid. The daily and seasonal variance is determined, demonstrating a surprisingly good energy yield in April (second only to August). The geographic divergence of generation from large scale solar systems is studied for various sized regions. Generation is compared to demand. Timing of output is analyzed and probability of achieving peak output ascertained. Output and demand are not well matched, as regards location. Nevertheless, the existing grid infrastructure is shown to have sufficient capacity to handle electricity flow from large scale PV. Full nameplate capacity is never reached by the examples studied. Although little information is available about oversizing of array-to-inverter ratios, this is considered unlikely to be a major contributor to grid instability. It is determined that output from UK solar farms currently presents scant danger to grid stability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:48:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e6bbda84a7f4b34b037c28a3bc42839 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:48:38Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e6bbda84a7f4b34b037c28a3bc428392022-12-22T04:01:19ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732017-08-01108122010.3390/en10081220en10081220The UK Solar Farm Fleet: A Challenge for the National Grid? †Diane Palmer0Elena Koubli1Tom Betts2Ralph Gottschalg3Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UKCentre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UKCentre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UKCentre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UKCurrently, in the UK, it is widely believed that supply from renewable energy sources is capable of reaching proportions too great for the transmission system. This research investigates this topic objectively by offering an understanding of year-to-year and area-to-area variability of PV (photovoltaic) performance, measured in terms of specific yield (kWh/kWp). The dataset is created using publicly available data that gives an indication of impact on the grid. The daily and seasonal variance is determined, demonstrating a surprisingly good energy yield in April (second only to August). The geographic divergence of generation from large scale solar systems is studied for various sized regions. Generation is compared to demand. Timing of output is analyzed and probability of achieving peak output ascertained. Output and demand are not well matched, as regards location. Nevertheless, the existing grid infrastructure is shown to have sufficient capacity to handle electricity flow from large scale PV. Full nameplate capacity is never reached by the examples studied. Although little information is available about oversizing of array-to-inverter ratios, this is considered unlikely to be a major contributor to grid instability. It is determined that output from UK solar farms currently presents scant danger to grid stability.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/8/1220solar farmnational grid stabilityphotovoltaic performancesolar resource assessmentsolar mapping |
| spellingShingle | Diane Palmer Elena Koubli Tom Betts Ralph Gottschalg The UK Solar Farm Fleet: A Challenge for the National Grid? † Energies solar farm national grid stability photovoltaic performance solar resource assessment solar mapping |
| title | The UK Solar Farm Fleet: A Challenge for the National Grid? † |
| title_full | The UK Solar Farm Fleet: A Challenge for the National Grid? † |
| title_fullStr | The UK Solar Farm Fleet: A Challenge for the National Grid? † |
| title_full_unstemmed | The UK Solar Farm Fleet: A Challenge for the National Grid? † |
| title_short | The UK Solar Farm Fleet: A Challenge for the National Grid? † |
| title_sort | uk solar farm fleet a challenge for the national grid † |
| topic | solar farm national grid stability photovoltaic performance solar resource assessment solar mapping |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/8/1220 |
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