Grid Connection Feasibility and Assessment Studies
Due to its expertise in grid connection work and its wider knowledge of renewable energies, TNEI is often commissioned to conduct large scale feasibility and assessment studies for energy projects by clients in both the public and private sector.
In 2006, The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), in conjunction with Scottish Executive, Shetlands Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, commissioned TNEI Services Ltd to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of connecting large tranches of renewable generation on the main Scottish Island groups to the mainland transmission network.
Renewable energy was one of a number of priority sectors identified as being of key strategic importance to the development of the region’s economy.
The study involved an analysis of the likely connection points, offshore cable routes and an assessment of the reinforcement options on the onshore transmission network. A key aspect was to investigate the timescales of the various options and how these interact with the island based projects currently being developed.
The findings concluded that the existing interconnections between the islands and the Scottish mainland where present were insufficient to accept the anticipated level of generation capacity being proposed.
The study also found that a number of deep reinforcement works would be required within the Scotland and England transmission systems. The timescales associated with these deep reinforcements were long and arduous, and so the study investigated a number of alternative connection options that might accelerate the connection of island schemes.
The final report identified the potential grid connection options including locations, cable routes, technologies, regulatory issues and associated costs and comparative timescales.
As part of the study, TNEI consulted with a wide range of organisations including
_ Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission (SHETL) - transmission network owner
_ Scottish Power Transmission (SPTL) - transmission network owner
_ National Grid Transco (NGT) - transmission network owner and GB system operator
_ Statnett – Norwegian Transmission Network Owner
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland represent the greatest density of renewable energy resource in the UK. Extreme tidal, wave and wind regimes continue to attract developers seeking to install tidal, wind and wave energy conversion technologies that could make very significant contributions to the UK’s energy requirements and climate change targets.
By necessity the report and analysis dealt with a range of complex issues to deliver its recommendations highlighting how the resources of the Scottish Islands could be connected primarily into the GB transmission network.