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News Release from: BEAMA | Subject: Renewables research project findings
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 30 November 2007
BEAMA renewables research project
findings
BEAMA has unveiled the main results of the domestic photovoltaic, wind and microCHP monitoring BERR-industry funded research project, it has undertaken.
The research project was undertaken alongside partners including EA Technology, Elexon and major energy suppliers The salient findings from the research, which gathered real generation, export and consumption data from 133 micro generation sites UK-wide over the past two years, are presented in a report (Metering and monitoring of domestic embedded generation Part II - Data Analysis, Nov 2007) at the House of Commons (28 November 2007)
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 4 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Monitoring microCHP, wind, photovoltaic and hydro generator sites, the project's prime objective was to provide Elexon with reliable data to support the export reward process.
This relates to Section 7 of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006, and also referred to in Clause 7.29 of the 2006 Budget Statement.
The data set was also investigated to examine the generation and export impact of various technologies included in the trial.
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This is key to the potential of these technologies in reducing carbon emissions in housing, and meeting the challenging targets for low and zero carbon housing, planned over the next nine years.
Measured outputs from each technology were demonstrated and the presentation highlighted:.
* Real output data from photovoltaic, wind, microCHP and micro hydro installations.
* Electricity exports for each technology.
* Implications for energy import profiles.
* Opportunities to use the data for policy development.
Research rationale.
This project was initiated to provide real data supporting the development of profiles for the P81 no-half hourly settlements of exports process.
P81 allows owners to sell their exports to suppliers on the basis of a single quarterly export meter read.
To sell-on this power, suppliers need to know its half hourly output profile.
This is achieved by using Standard Settlement Configurations (SSCs) indicating an assumed export profile.
When P81 was set up there was limited real data available to define these SSCs.
Research findings.
The research report analyses the real performance of the different types of generators and finds that all units produce on average 10% of their potential output, which could be achieved by running at full output all year.
Some sites show levels of around 15%, which might represent a target for well-located sites.
The data indicates a high level of diversity in the generation output of all the technologies but in particular the microCHP and wind generators.
The research results provide accurate information on what power contribution can be expected from the different technologies.
This is particularly important to understand the contribution that these technologies can make for homes in the future, particularly new-build as part of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Exports .
For all sites, it was found that the proportion of export relative to power generated is relatively high, ranging from 47% for wind and PV to 31% for microCHP.
This will have significant impact on customers who do not have export deals, and will adversely affect any payback on their systems.
A companion report by EA Technology indicates that the P81 profile process results in moderate errors in valuing the exports compared to the value based on half hourly metering.
The fundamental issue for export reward remains the low value of exports compared to the high cost of servicing the payments.
The errors in P81 are not large enough to justify the move to half hourly metering at present.
P81 remains the most cost effective process available within current market rules.
Going forwards .
BEAMA research project leader John Parsons comments: "Any solution must be to change market rules.
The most obvious option is to combine the related processes making payments to customers for export and ROCs.
Changes to current market and governance rules would be required, but would allow the cost of making these payments to be reduced.
This would leave suppliers with more cash to return to customers.
"Current developments in Smart metering should, in the near future, allow transfer of data from generation meters to import/export meter, thus bringing together data, and making its collection and processing much simpler." Research findings recommendations Recommendations include:.
1.
Elexon should consider the current SSCs used for the P81 process and make revisions as appropriate.
2.
Current development of Smart metering specifications should allow for connection of a generation meter to the import/export meter to support a combined export/ROC reward process.
3.
Further analysis should be carried out on diversity effects of microCHP and wind generators.
The data set obtained by this project could support a more extensive analysis.
4.
The correlation between weather forecast data and actual outputs should be examined if appropriate forecast data can be obtained.
This should look at the accuracy of day ahead forecasts that might allow customer demand profiles to be modified in advance of generator outputs.
John Parsons: "The data set obtained contains considerable information on the operation of microgenerators.
Further analyses outside the project's scope could be carried out.
For example, identifying and predicting the performance of combined systems comprising different microgenerator types".
For full Report see: www.beama.org.uk/mdgreport.
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