Menu:

• Introduction
• Scope
• Method
• Deliverables
• The Team
• Demand Profiles
• Present Scenario
• 2020 Scenario
• 2050 Scenario
• Supply Profiles
• Sensitivity Analysis
• Sizing Procedure
• Supply-Demand Matching
• Weather Data
• Matching Criteria
• Results -
  No Resizing
• Results -
  Resizing
• Results -
  Selection Process
• Impacts
• Environmental
• Economic
• Conclusions
• Literature Review

Matching Criteria

Three criteria were used to define a desirable supply-demand match:

1. Merit match rate

2. Grid interaction

3. Economic savings

1. Merit Match Rate

The Match Rate is a criterion within the computational modelling tool Merit. It describes the percentage of supply that meets the required demand. A match with zero deficit would have a match rate of 100%.

The graphs below show supply-demand matches which would give either a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ Merit match rate:

Bad Match

Bad Match

Good Match

2. Grid Interaction

The Grid Interaction criterion was created by the group to describe the interaction with the grid in the supply-demand match. The purpose of this criterion is to define all interaction with the grid as undesirable, namely both surplus and deficit. This is assuming a future case in which feed-in tariffs are no longer available, and producing additional electricity no longer provides any financial gain.

This criterion calculates the power taken from or given to the grid (deficit and surplus) as a percentage of the total power required, using the formula below:

3. Economic Savings

The Economic Savings are calculated by means of the Economic Gain criterion, which was created by the group to describe the potential financial savings of the renewable energy system. The amount of money saved by energy generated (and not taken from the grid) plus any money made from Feed-in Tariffs (scenario 1 only, assuming these will not be available in the future) is calculated.

The cost of energy from the grid is calculated for future scenarios using Ofgem energy price predictions [1], and money from feed in tariffs is calculated using information provided by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) [2].

The formula used is shown below:

References

[1] Ofgem Project Discovery: Energy Market Scenarios, Consultation Paper. Available at: http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/WhlMkts/Discovery/Documents1/Discovery_Scenarios_ConDoc_FINAL.pdf (Accessed 20/3/12).

[2] Department of Energy and Climate Change, Feed-In Tariffs. Available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/Renewable_ener/feedin_tariff/feedin_tariff.aspx (Accessed 13/3/12).

© 2012 MSc Renewable Energy Systems and Environment Group Project