UK Power Networks (UKPN) has begun publishing data on when and why distributed energy resources are curtailed in what it claims is an industry first.
In order to allow renewable energy generators to connect to the network more quickly and cheaply, the company introduced flexible connections in 2014. Yet it explained that a trade-off of this is that flexibility customers can sometimes see their exported energy curtailed, to keep the network within safe limits.
The distribution system operator (DSO) said being more open with curtailment data will reduce its impact and get more renewable energy into customers’ homes.
Last year UKPN became the first energy network to launch an independent DSO and it has since established new data and operations teams working to better understand and reduce the curtailment process.
DSO director Sotiris Georgiopoulos said: “We know generators want to get as much of the energy they produce onto the network and that’s exactly what we are doing. By gaining a really clear understanding of exactly what’s happening and then working with our customers we’ve been able to deliver a significant drop in the volume and duration of curtailment.
“We strongly believe in the principle of opening up our data and we’re opening up granular curtailment reporting to release data on exactly how much spare capacity is available at each Grid Supply Point, and how many projects have already requested a new connection, supporting customers by sharing more data and ultimately getting more renewable energy into people’s homes at lower cost.”