Memorandum by Mr Derek Birkett
INTRODUCTION
1. My name is Derek George Birkett. I am
a graduate and chartered electrical engineer having a lifetime
of experience within the electrical supply industry and resident
in the Scottish Highlands for thirty-eight years. My initial training
and employment with the CEGB in Yorkshire was with coal based
generation, progressing onto project installation and commissioning
at five power station locations, three of which were nuclear.
In the mid seventies I moved into hydro generation then Grid system
operation with the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board before
retiring in 1999 as shift System Control Engineer. All my employment
has been in the nature of direct practical application.
2. Over the last two years I have actively
opposed renewable development at three Public Inquiries. The first
two with wind farm applications at Griffin and Lochelbank in Perthshire
and the last as one of two independent witnesses for the strategic
session of the Beauly-Denny Public Inquiry into a 400kV transmission
line application.
3. The evidence I wish to present is submitted
on an individual basis. There is a substantial annexe component
included with material taken from the above public inquiries.
This is preceded by a submission made to the Royal Society of
Edinburgh for their Inquiry into Energy Issues for Scotland. The
scope and complexity of technical issues make it difficult to
offer statements without verification but to limit my submission
to a manageable length, many appendixes have not been included.
4. In opposition to these developments,
my motivation has been the impact on the local environment and
knowledge of the destabilising effect that projected wind resource
would have on the GB Grid System. This has been reinforced by
the perceived excessive overall cost and unease with the political
justification for renewable policy.
EVIDENCE FOR
INTERCONNECTION
5. Throughout the evidence contained in
the Annexes[12]
it has been assumed that the basic integrity of the GB Grid System
would be maintained as a self-contained entity. This assumption
can no longer be maintained in the light of recent developments.
The means of fully coping with intermittence show no indication
of being reinforced except by increased interconnection with the
continental grid. This may well be a commercial solution in that
an alternative use for trading exists but in so doing a one-way
dependency on the continental grid is created. This may well be
unacceptable for political, strategic and security considerations.
6. With increasing intermittent renewable
generation capacity, primarily wind resource, being introduced
onto the GB Grid system, the expected means to accommodate this
additional intermittence would be shared by a larger proportion
of spinning reserve, supported by generation plant with fast reacting
response, such as Open Circuit Gas Turbines (OCGT) or hydro-electric
pumped storage schemes. A recent Ofgem/Berr report (reference
1) suggests no increased capacity for this category of generation
whilst indicating a significant increase of interconnection capacity
around 2010 (figure 1).
7. Current HVDC interconnection capacity
with the GB Grid system has a 2GW connection from France and a
450MW connection between Northern Ireland and Scotland. A projected
1300MW interconnection with the Netherlands is indicated within
the National Grid SYS statement.
8. There has been a recent announcement
by National Grid and Elia (Belgium transmission system operator)
to study the potential for a 700-1300MW interconnection (reference
2).
9. An all Ireland study into investment
for renewable development would double the existing 450MW interconnection
from Scotland to 1GW, with fast acting generating plant also contemplated.
Part of their problem with intermittence would then be passed
onto the GB Grid system (reference 3).
10. An assessment of Grid connection options
for the Scottish Islands proposed a Norwegian interconnection
that could tap the high load factor wind resource potential of
Shetland (reference 4). (This report provides detailed options
for subsea cable connection to England).
11. The recent government decision to promote
a UK nuclear programme from continental suppliers would suggest
reactor sizes to be in excess of existing construction. This would
expect to increase the requirement for fast response plant. The
questionable option of promoting interconnection as a substitute
solution remains.
HYDRO ELECTRIC
DEVELOPMENT
12. From a technical standpoint hydroelectric
generation with storage has the most attractive features of any
energy resource and its limited exploitation arises from the significant
capital outlay required that is essentially a long-term investment.
The scale of potential resource within the Scottish Highlands
reflects existing development and its exploitation would provide
an ideal operational complement with any intermittent resource
(reference 5).
PERSPECTIVE OF
APPROACH
13. System operation demands a predictable
framework for efficient operation. There should be a presumption
against the introduction of uncontrollable generation onto the
GB Grid system. The situation that currently exists imposes on
the Grid authority technical adaptation leading to inefficient
operation, complexity and cost. Although accommodation can be
made, no single body is responsible to make overall technical
and cost judgements to prevent excessive and distorted decisions
from being implemented.
14. All these technical measures are essentially
a response to overcome potential instability that must question
just how essential is this policy justification. Grid integrity
is being sacrificed to accommodate unpredictable and uneconomic
generation whose capacity must be almost replicated with alternative
firm generation. Any scale of renewable development undermines
the economic basis of such standby capacity. A structural impediment
is being introduced to what purpose and advantage?
EVIDENCE WITHIN
ANNEXES (NOT
PRINTED IN
THIS VOLUME)
15. Annexe 1 presented as evidence to the
Royal Society of Edinburgh, investigates the response times of
standby generation plant and describes the circumstance of Grid
operation. Appendix A reveals the unsustainable targets promoted
by the Scottish Executive whilst Appendix C was a published letter
in response to a prominent article in the technical press advocating
wind development (reference 6).
16. Annexe 2 examines the issue of wind
resource load factor as presented in a precognition for the Lochelbank
Public Inquiry. It updates similar evidence as given to the Griffin
Public Inquiry in July 2006. The evidence reveals excessive estimates
for carbon saving and provides actual energy production details
from all Scotland wind projects. Only appendixes 5 and 11 have
been included.
17. Annexe 3 is a precognition for the Beauly
to Denny Public Inquiry questioning the scale of intermittent
wind resource capable of being absorbed onto the GB Grid system.
This issue would impact on the assumptions made to justify not
only the Beauly to Denny transmission line but with supporting
substation infrastructure along its route. Intermittence issues
are explored, as are future uncertainties. Appendix 7 and 12 are
included. Appendix 6 is identified as Annexe 1 above. The closing
submission is also presented.
18. Annexe 4 is in two parts. A Summary
paper was judged necessary for clarity when presenting this Rebuttal
paper in the course of the Beauly/Denny Public Inquiry. These
documents were submitted but not accepted by the Reporters.
20 May 2008
LIST OF
REFERENCES
1. Transmission Access Review—Interim
Report. 76 pages. Ofgem (08/08) BERR(URN 08/609). 31 January 2008.
2. Engineering & Technology. IET
Journal Page 13. 23 February-3 March 2008.
3. An Island Grid Study. 16 pages. Irish
Dept of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. January
2008.
4. TNEI Report. Assessment of the Grid Connection
Options for the Scottish Islands. 129 pages. Highlands and Islands
Enterprise. 27 March 2007.
5. Review of potential hydroelectric development
in the Scottish Highlands. Electronics and Power. Pages 339-346.
(IEE Journal). May 1979.
6. Feedback. IEE Review. Page4. July
2004. Response to article Assimilating Wind by David Milborrow.
IEE Review. Page 9-13. January 2002.
12 Annexes not published here. Back
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