Forecasting system increasingly accurate
A new record for the maximum output from wind generation has been achieved, according to National Grid.
The energy company said that the half hourly average for metered wind generation reached 4199 MW yesterday afternoon, representing 9.3 per cent of demand at the time.
A spokesperson for Scottish Renewables said: “These figures from National Grid confirm what many of us have known for some time; that onshore wind is making a significant contribution to meeting our electricity demands, is a reliable energy resource and can be forecast with accuracy by those responsible for managing our electricity grid.
“Onshore wind is now a significant part of Scotland’s energy mix and is responsible for thousands of jobs as well as providing the basis for billions of pounds of investment in both electricity infrastructure and other promising renewable energy technologies such as offshore wind and marine.
“Latest figures also show some 35 per cent of Scotland’s electricity needs were met by renewables, with onshore wind making up a the majority of this generation.”
National Grid added that its wind power forecasting system had become increasingly accurate: “The forecasting performance was excellent,” said Alan Smart, its Energy Operations Manager.
“Our wind forecasting tool is under continuous development and we have done a lot of work to improve our forecasts on high wind days.
“As more wind generation is connected to the system, this tool will become increasingly important in helping us manage the electricity system”.
Will Peakin
Beginning as a reporter on weekly newspapers in the North-East of England, Will moved to Glasgow and worked as a freelance for a number of UK national newspapers. In 1990 he was appointed News Editor of Scotland on Sunday and in 1995, Scotland Editor of The Sunday Times. In 1999, he and his family moved to the south-west of France where he wrote for The Sunday Times Magazine. Returning to Scotland in 2002, he was Assistant Editor (Features) and Deputy Editor at The Scotsman before joining Holyrood Magazine in 2004. He writes for the magazine's business pages and edits its series of...