Smarter, faster, bigger, stronger?

The energy system is experiencing unparalleled change. Even the language that characterised the old process of supply and demand is no longer appropriate. Now, the producer consumes, the consumer manages, the manager connects and the connector controls. Software as well as hardware is becoming increasingly important in enabling high renewables systems such as Ireland. The system operators – SONI and EirGrid – operating on both sides of the Irish border have succeeded in enabling world-leading penetration of renewables, something that has been facilitated by grid build-out but also network optimisation, automated communications, advanced prediction and transmission and distribution planning.

 The debate on low-carbon generation has, at times, become one of ‘more with less’. Changing from the ROC scheme to competitive auctions was encouragement to deliver more renewable generation with less cost, and the move certainly worked in ensuring cost reductions across a range of technologies in the UK. Co-locating projects behind a single connection point is another method of maximising existing network capacity, and the growth in storage technologies and demand management could themselves be characterised as mechanisms for greater utilisation of existing and planned low-carbon generation capacity.

Northern Ireland generated almost 35% of its electricity needs from renewable sources in 2017 and is on course to reach its 2020 target of 40%. As we now look beyond 40% we need to assess more comprehensively the requirements of a future energy system, powered by renewables. We are gathering a team of experts on 24 April to discuss future energy systems and assess how we can securely operate and develop an active distribution system comprising networks, demand, generation and other flexible distributed energy resources. If we continue to think in terms of ‘more with less’ we must recognise that it will require ever greater complexity in systems.