Eirgrid and DS3 – a lot done, more to do

On 29 March Eirgrid published its long-awaited consultation on the Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System (DS3) System Services Volume Capped Competitive Procurement. It provided some welcome detail on the next steps for DS3, but there are residual questions outstanding which make it difficult for current investors to ascertain risks on their projects.

The DS3 programme seeks to increase the allowable System Non Synchronous Penetration (SNSP) up to 75% by 2020, reducing the curtailment of wind to approximately 5% per annum. The programme started in 2011 and has taken time to arrive at this point, moving through stages of regulated and interim arrangements. DS3 is progressing towards a competitive enduring approach with the recent volume uncapped and now volume capped procurement process.

Related thinking

Energy storage and flexibility

Investor optimism sparks PPA competition

In recent months, Cornwall Insight has issued several of our regular subscription reports from our PPA Insights Service covering both renewable and flexibility Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) markets, namely the Green Power Forecast, Renewable PPA Market Share and Flexible PPA Market reports. As part of these reports, we conduct surveys...

Regulation and policy

Answers to some FAQs about Brexit

Following the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 and the signing of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, aspects of the relationship between UK and the EU in respect of the arrangements for energy trading and cooperation have changed. We set out answers to some Frequently Asked Questions...

Announcement

Cornwall Insight advises Still Waters Green Technology for its 30MW flagship battery storage project

We are pleased to announce that we have advised Still Waters Green Technology (SWGT) to secure the £12m non-recourse Phase One Financial Close with Santander UK. The deal was announced in November and will see a 30MW utility-scale battery storage project built in Swindon. Our experts leveraged their comprehensive knowledge...

Announcement

Cornwall Insight supports Zenobē Energy on a £150mn equity capital raise

Cornwall Insight, an energy consultancy, research, and analytics company, is pleased to announce its role in providing support Zenobē Energy secure a £150mn equity capital raise from Infracapital. The deal was announced on 13 November 2020, and the funding will be used to support the growth of Zenobē Energy’s grid-scale...

Energy storage and flexibility

System operators warn of System Alerts risk this winter

EirGrid and SONI issued their Winter Outlook for 2020-21 on 15 October in which they warned that if high generator forced outage rates continue over the winter period there is a risk of System Alerts. The transmission system operators (TSOs) said the all-island capacity margin this winter is predicted to be 929MW...

Low carbon generation

Renewables Pipeline Tracker: Higher, faster, stronger – the changing nature of offshore wind

Having released our October 2020 Renewables Pipeline Tracker report, which covers the latest developments for pipeline renewables sites across GB, this blog explores our recent findings on the pipeline and in particular offshore wind. The Renewables Pipeline Tracker is updated quarterly and includes information across over 1,000 prospective renewables sites...

Low carbon generation

New policy measures needed to drive renewable generation

Published on 24 August, a new report by Energy Storage Ireland and the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) called for action to strengthen Ireland’s electricity grid. The second of a series of four studies which make up the government’s 70 by 30 Implementation Plan, Saving Power outlines how to minimise dispatch down and increase the use...

Low carbon generation

Analyse thy neighbour: Interconnectors and their importance to future power prices

Whilst we build towards 2021 and post-Brexit energy markets, focus has been applied to how we in GB strive towards net zero ambitions with a more independent policy agenda. However, regardless of future trading arrangements, interconnectors with EU nations will continue to play a pivotal role in driving wholesale power...