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Eirgrid figures during night time EV charging

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  • Registered Users Posts: 13,996 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    On the subject of 'smart devices' like EVs and other household equipment needing information from the electricity supplier to make decisions about when to power up/charge, and the difficulties that might pose, I would think that a small programmable device, designed and programmed to get the necessary info from the elec supplier (on its input side) and then able to communicate with say your EV to tell it the times it should charge, would probably cover all eventualities.
    It would introduce a single point of failure, but would simplify things for the user.

    It could be regarded like a modem is now .... program (set it up) to speak to your particular provider, and set up its output side how it communicates with your smart devices and enables them when required.

    I don't see that as a huge hurdle ..... in fact I would quite like to be able to handle all my smart devices (when I get them :) ) from one unit.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    ted1 wrote: »
    Because High wind pushes the cleaner plants off the grid. So the mix is Wind +Coal and possible peat.

    If you look at the load in the middle of the night you’ll see that as the load decreases to about 2GW the CO2/kWh increases. So if you charge at night you have a higher CO2 footprint than those charging during the day

    Not quite the question I was asking.

    If you look at row 3 and row 5 of my table. They have similar wind percentages but the gCO2/kWh is much higher in the last 30 days. Something else "unusual" happened in the last 30 days.

    There is a small difference in CO2 intensity from charging between night and day but not much:
    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=103042278&postcount=102


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭antoinolachtnai


    It is great in principle, but tricky to roll out nationwide and at scale, connected to devices spread around your house. What makes it even more complex is that there is more than just the supplier and generators involved. The distribution network and transmission network also have serious constraints and that needs to be factored into calculating the schedule too. And of course they (whoever 'they' is) have to figure out hw to remotely turn power on and off only at a time that won't cause undue disruption to you, the customer.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,142 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Moneypoint can't be constrained. Just runs fully, normally, unless 1 of the 3 X 300Mw stacks is shut down. so it's always running at night and doesn't affect what cross is looking for. More than likely gas being replaced by peat or similar. Doubt if that is on the basis of price, maybe maintenance or repair.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭antoinolachtnai


    That's probably it. Gas is basically easy to turn off when alternatives are available (like a gas fire basically). You have to let coal ramp down. This will change somewhat when the i-SEM market is introduced.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 21,142 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Overall problem also is Gas turbines are closed cycle here, so running full or off. Open cycle would be less efficient but variable. Very handy to blend with RE. Same as motors.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭antoinolachtnai


    There is plenty Open Cycle there too as I understand it.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_power_stations_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland

    When you see the SEM price go very high, that is partly because the more expensive OCGT is being called.

    You more or less have to have all this gas generation when you have loads of wind, even if you don't call it very often. Under current arrangements, OCGT operators are paid whether their plants run or not.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,299 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    That's probably it. Gas is basically easy to turn off when alternatives are available (like a gas fire basically). You have to let coal ramp down. This will change somewhat when the i-SEM market is introduced.
    Nothing to do with easier to turn off. It’s based on its bid in price to the SEMO. it’s cheaper than gas.


  • Registered Users Posts: 23,299 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    There is plenty Open Cycle there too as I understand it.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_power_stations_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland

    When you see the SEM price go very high, that is partly because the more expensive OCGT is being called.

    You more or less have to have all this gas generation when you have loads of wind, even if you don't call it very often. Under current arrangements, OCGT operators are paid whether their plants run or not.
    The peaking plants were built on the basis that they would only be needed for a max of 500 hours per year. The rest of the time they get capacity payments


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  • Registered Users Posts: 23,299 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Water John wrote: »
    Overall problem also is Gas turbines are closed cycle here, so running full or off. Open cycle would be less efficient but variable. Very handy to blend with RE. Same as motors.
    Some of the peaking plants are OCGT.

    They’ve a better ramp rate.
    http://www.bordnamona.ie/company/our-businesses/powergen/gas-turbine-technology/


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭antoinolachtnai


    ted1 wrote: »
    That's probably it. Gas is basically easy to turn off when alternatives are available (like a gas fire basically). You have to let coal ramp down. This will change somewhat when the i-SEM market is introduced.
    Nothing to do with easier to turn off. It’s based on its bid in price to the SEMO. it’s cheaper than gas.

    You are right. Not easier to turn off.

    But it may be cheaper to let it run overnight than to start it up again in the morning. The scheduling algorithm does take startup costs into account.

    And as you say, coal is pretty cheap ...


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,142 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    Coal plant takes a couple of days to ramp up.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    Update to OP

    % Wind vs Demand from 4-8am

    Date|% Wind|Low|High|gCO2/kW|Low|High|Total Wind %|Total Coal|Total Gas
    28/7-26/8|28|0|58|365|288|433|24
    25/8-23/9|26|1|67|375|259|458|24
    23/9-22/10|36|1|62|305|210|429|34
    22/10-19/11|29|1|62|334|225|421|23
    20/11-18/12|38|5|68|347|224|463|30|16|39
    19/12-17/1|46|3|75|331|209|472|39|13|35



    46% !!!

    Obviously its been a windy 4 weeks!

    I've added a few new columns for fuel mix, which is useful to see.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    Update to OP

    % Wind vs Demand from 4-8am

    Date|% Wind|Low|High|gCO2/kW|Low|High|Total Wind %|Total Coal|Total Gas
    28/7-26/8|28|0|58|365|288|433|24
    25/8-23/9|26|1|67|375|259|458|24
    23/9-22/10|36|1|62|305|210|429|34
    22/10-19/11|29|1|62|334|225|421|23
    20/11-18/12|38|5|68|347|224|463|30|16|39
    19/12-17/1|46|3|75|331|209|472|39|13|35
    17/1-15/2|50|4|75|295|215|500|42|12|33


    New leader... 50% this month. Thats impressive.

    Interesting that the grid is able to "let in" 75% renewable and keep the network stable for 2 months in a row. I think this is usually a problem for them but I guess its easier for them to factor it into their calculations when the amount of wind is high and sustained. Its during the calmer months where it is up and down a lot that they can't factor it in as much so it gets curtailed.... just surmising on that.

    Another interesting one is the gCO2 high of 500(4 and 5 Feb)! The day before and the day after it was under 300. I wonder what happened there? Wind generation was close to zero. Were there very high winds around then where they had to stop the turbines?


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,211 ✭✭✭✭Calahonda52


    KC
    historical wind etc here
    https://www.met.ie/climate/daily-data.asp
    C

    “I can’t pay my staff or mortgage with instagram likes”.



  • Registered Users Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭antoinolachtnai


    They have been working at being able to take more wind onto the system over the years.

    The problem with wind is that wind speed flies all over the place. Looking at Knock Airport reports, it looks like there was a bit of a lull on the day you mention.

    There isn't any particular issue with the wind being sustained as far as I know. The issues are outlined in this paper. http://www.eirgrid.ie/site-files/library/EirGrid/Annual-Renewable-Constraint-and-Curtailment-Report-2016-v1.0.pdf . See pages 11 and 12. If there were more demand at night, it seems that there would be less constraint on wind generation at night.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    They have been working at being able to take more wind onto the system over the years.

    Thanks.

    Relevant piece is this...
    "… the limit was raised from 50% to 55% in October 2015 and a trial of 60% commenced in November 2016. The ultimate aim of the DS3 programme is to increase this limit towards 75%"


    So, 75% is exactly what they've got to!


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    Update to OP

    % Wind vs Demand from 4-8am

    Date|% Wind|Low|High|gCO2/kW|Low|High|Total Wind %|Total Coal|Total Gas
    28/7-26/8|28|0|58|365|288|433|24
    25/8-23/9|26|1|67|375|259|458|24
    23/9-22/10|36|1|62|305|210|429|34
    22/10-19/11|29|1|62|334|225|421|23
    20/11-18/12|38|5|68|347|224|463|30|16|39
    19/12-17/1|46|3|75|331|209|472|39|13|35
    17/1-15/2|50|4|75|295|215|500|42|12|33
    15/2-16/3|35|1|71|371|215|522|33|20|39


    The % wind wasn't too bad at 35% but it has been a rather dirty month for gCO2/kW presumably due to a significant increase in Coal use this month.

    I wonder why that happened? Even with the cold weather the overall demand doesnt appear to be up so there must be something else causing it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    Update to OP

    % Wind vs Demand from 4-8am

    Date|% Wind|Low|High|gCO2/kW|Low|High|Total Wind %|Total Coal|Total Gas
    28/7-26/8|28|0|58|365|288|433|24
    25/8-23/9|26|1|67|375|259|458|24
    23/9-22/10|36|1|62|305|210|429|34
    22/10-19/11|29|1|62|334|225|421|23
    20/11-18/12|38|5|68|347|224|463|30|16|39
    19/12-17/1|46|3|75|331|209|472|39|13|35
    17/1-15/2|50|4|75|295|215|500|42|12|33
    15/2-16/3|35|1|71|371|215|522|33|20|39
    16/3-14/3|29|0|71|373|211|513|26|17|43


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,118 ✭✭✭ABC101


    KCross wrote: »
    Update to OP

    % Wind vs Demand from 4-8am

    Date|% Wind|Low|High|gCO2/kW|Low|High|Total Wind %|Total Coal|Total Gas
    28/7-26/8|28|0|58|365|288|433|24
    25/8-23/9|26|1|67|375|259|458|24
    23/9-22/10|36|1|62|305|210|429|34
    22/10-19/11|29|1|62|334|225|421|23
    20/11-18/12|38|5|68|347|224|463|30|16|39
    19/12-17/1|46|3|75|331|209|472|39|13|35
    17/1-15/2|50|4|75|295|215|500|42|12|33
    15/2-16/3|35|1|71|371|215|522|33|20|39
    16/3-14/3|29|0|71|373|211|513|26|17|43

    I assume that the average figure is the gm co2 / KWhr column? If so it is still a good figure approx 350 gm Co2 / Kwhr.

    A few years ago the average for 2014 ( I think) was 465 gm Co2 / Kwhr, so to get to 350 or so, is a reduction of about 100 gm of Co2 / Kwhr which is a good reduction in itself.

    On another point, I used to look at the smartgrid dashboard, but I don't bother anymore. Reason being, it appeared to be very unreliable, for example regularly it stated 4500 system load, wind generation at 1000 and renewable energy at 45%.

    1Gw is not 45% of 4.5 GW total demand. So it appeared to be a problem with the data processing. I did email them a few times, pointing out these anomalys, they got it running correctly, but then it all went pear shaped again. So I don't rely on it anymore. If you used data from another source then you are probably working with more accurate figures.

    Don't forget the interconnectors, if Ireland is importing power, the Co2 intensity will go down for Ireland, but it will go up for UK.

    But it is expected that onshore wind power generation will have a utilisation of about 30%, and that seems to be the case in your tables above.

    Offshore wind normally has a higher utilisation rate, 40%+or so.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    ABC101 wrote: »
    I assume that the average figure is the gm co2 / KWhr column? If so it is still a good figure approx 350 gm Co2 / Kwhr.

    Columns 2 and 5 are averages for the time period 4-8am each night for the 28 days of that row.


    ABC101 wrote: »
    On another point, I used to look at the smartgrid dashboard, but I don't bother anymore. Reason being, it appeared to be very unreliable, for example regularly it stated 4500 system load, wind generation at 1000 and renewable energy at 45%.

    I am using their data but I'm calculating the percentages myself.
    So, I download the raw csv data for System Demand, Generation, Wind, CO2... stick it all in a spreadsheet and then pull out and average the data for the 4-8am slots.

    So, unless you are telling me that the raw MW figures are wrong/unreliable my figures should be good.

    ABC101 wrote: »
    Don't forget the interconnectors, if Ireland is importing power, the Co2 intensity will go down for Ireland, but it will go up for UK.

    But it is expected that onshore wind power generation will have a utilisation of about 30%, and that seems to be the case in your tables above.

    Offshore wind normally has a higher utilisation rate, 40%+or so.

    My CO2 figures are again, simply the averaged figures from their raw CO2 Intensity csv report.

    I assume their CO2 Intensity figures adjust accordingly for the interconnectors.


  • Posts: 21,179 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Forget about Co2, it's the actually pollution from the burning of fossil fuels we should be much more concerned about. The stuff that actually harms human health, causing lung and heart disease and even dementia. Co2 creates none of these and is a harmless gas essential for life on earth without it the planet can't sustain life, I'd be far more worried if Co2 levels were going down.

    The Oceans store much more Co2 than we could ever release or even think possible.

    Anyway, wind energy is good but I'd like to see less money from the taxpayer go to line the pockets of these wind farm owners or give something back, cheaper electricity costs, instead of dumping excess wind energy abroad we could use it to heat homes and get people off of oil and Gas.

    We also need more solar PV in the grid but the Grid is maxed out it can't take more than 65% this is why for now you will only ever see around 65% max green energy and even at that there could be substantial energy going through the inter-connector to the U.K that we should be able to use ourselves.

    It seems rather ridiculous that electricity costs are high enough to deter people from using it in storage heaters when we have plenty of excess wind energy at certain times or have to shut turbines off.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,118 ✭✭✭ABC101


    Forget about Co2, it's the actually pollution from the burning of fossil fuels we should be much more concerned about. The stuff that actually harms human health, causing lung and heart disease and even dementia. Co2 creates none of these and is a harmless gas essential for life on earth without it the planet can't sustain life, I'd be far more worried if Co2 levels were going down.

    The Oceans store much more Co2 than we could ever release or even think possible.

    Anyway, wind energy is good but I'd like to see less money from the taxpayer go to line the pockets of these wind farm owners or give something back, cheaper electricity costs, instead of dumping excess wind energy abroad we could use it to heat homes and get people off of oil and Gas.

    We also need more solar PV in the grid but the Grid is maxed out it can't take more than 65% this is why for now you will only ever see around 65% max green energy and even at that there could be substantial energy going through the inter-connector to the U.K that we should be able to use ourselves.

    It seems rather ridiculous that electricity costs are high enough to deter people from using it in storage heaters when we have plenty of excess wind energy at certain times or have to shut turbines off.

    When the interconnector with France is built, then perhaps we could raise the R.E. limit. It is going to be around 700 Mw, which is too small IMO.

    Ireland does have high energy costs, but it also has high costs in most other areas. Ireland has not failed to disappoint WRT rip off culture / or making things as expensive as possible to implement.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    We also need more solar PV in the grid but the Grid is maxed out it can't take more than 65% this is why for now you will only ever see around 65% max green energy and even at that there could be substantial energy going through the inter-connector to the U.K that we should be able to use ourselves.

    Look at the table again, we regularly go to 75% wind now.


  • Registered Users Posts: 219 ✭✭DM1983


    Forget about Co2, it's the actually pollution from the burning of fossil fuels we should be much more concerned about. The stuff that actually harms human health, causing lung and heart disease and even dementia. Co2 creates none of these and is a harmless gas essential for life on earth without it the planet can't sustain life, I'd be far more worried if Co2 levels were going down.

    The Oceans store much more Co2 than we could ever release or even think possible.

    Anyway, wind energy is good but I'd like to see less money from the taxpayer go to line the pockets of these wind farm owners or give something back, cheaper electricity costs, instead of dumping excess wind energy abroad we could use it to heat homes and get people off of oil and Gas.

    We also need more solar PV in the grid but the Grid is maxed out it can't take more than 65% this is why for now you will only ever see around 65% max green energy and even at that there could be substantial energy going through the inter-connector to the U.K that we should be able to use ourselves.

    It seems rather ridiculous that electricity costs are high enough to deter people from using it in storage heaters when we have plenty of excess wind energy at certain times or have to shut turbines off.

    Ah Jesus. Climate change denial in the EV forum is a sad state of affairs.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    Update to OP

    % Wind vs Demand from 4-8am

    Date|% Wind(4am-8am)|Low|High|gCO2/kW(4am-8am)|Low|High|Total Wind %(24hr)|Total Coal(24hr)|Total Gas(24hr)
    28/7-26/8|28|0|58|365|288|433|24
    25/8-23/9|26|1|67|375|259|458|24
    23/9-22/10|36|1|62|305|210|429|34
    22/10-19/11|29|1|62|334|225|421|23
    20/11-18/12|38|5|68|347|224|463|30|16|39
    19/12-17/1|46|3|75|331|209|472|39|13|35
    17/1-15/2|50|4|75|295|215|500|42|12|33
    15/2-16/3|35|1|71|371|215|522|33|20|39
    16/3-14/4|29|0|71|373|211|513|26|17|43
    14/4-13/5|32|2|82|291|247|336|32|9|45
    13/5-11/6|14|1|62||||13|7|66
    11/6-10/7|19|1|75||||18|8|65
    10/7-8/8|18|1|67|316|212|372|17|6|68


  • Registered Users Posts: 64,881 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    We've had very little wind, but interestingly from your data, the use of coal has gone down big time too. Have you any data on total (24h) consumption vs sources of production?


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,142 ✭✭✭✭Water John


    I presume one or two of the Moneypoint stacks are out of commission.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭KCross


    unkel wrote: »
    We've had very little wind, but interestingly from your data, the use of coal has gone down big time too.

    With a corresponding increase in Gas (20%+ over the last 3 months)

    I am surmising that the shift from coal to gas has increased the cost to produce and is playing a big part in the recent price hikes by all the providers?
    unkel wrote: »
    Have you any data on total (24h) consumption vs sources of production?

    The last 3 columns represent total (i.e. 24hr)
    The first column represents the 4-8am period only. I'll update the table to make that clearer.

    Does that answer your question?


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