by Mathew Beech
National Grid will need to know where off-grid solar panels are installed if the UK sees a rapid growth in photovoltaic (PV) capacity, the electricity transmission operator has warned.
A spokesperson said the company was “generally concerned with matters on a larger scale” than the UK’s existing solar generating capacity, which stands at just over 1GW, but a substantial growth could cause difficulties.
If the level of PV increased significantly, it could lead to a “solar drop-off just as the peak time kicks in”, creating an energy shortage in the system.
In an attempt to develop an effective system in the future, National Grid is looking to Europe. Germany in particular, which has a solar generating capacity of 28GW, has experienced difficulties both in incorporating the renewable resource into its electricity transmission systems and in its ability to effectively meet demand.
To prevent that occurring in the UK, National Grid would need to know where, and how much, solar capacity was installed, so it could be balanced with on-grid capacity.
While solar is not currently part of the generation mix for National Grid’s forecast models, the company is keeping the situation under review. It is also considering whether more information exchange with the distribution network operators around off-grid generation will be required.
This article first appeared in Utility Week’s print edition of 19th October 2012.
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