Network access - electricity
Embedded generation is plant which has been connected to the distribution networks of the public electricity suppliers (shortly to become public electricity distributors under the Utilities Bill) rather than directly to the National Grid Company's transmission systems. They are generally smaller stations located on industrial sites, combined heat and power plant, renewable energy plant such as wind farms and refuse burner generators, and even some domestic generators such as electric solar panels. A working group was set up to consider a range of issues which affect the ability of developers and operators of such plant to gain access to and use distribution networks.
Work on the impact of the new electric trading arrangements (NETA) on embedded generators was NOT addressed in this group but in a specials group within the NETA Programme. See OFGEM for further details of NETA at www.ofgem.gov.uk.
The joint government working group on embedded generation was set up in March 2000 following responses to the DTI consultation document Electricity Network Management Issues (PDF, 20 Kb) which was published in November 1999. That document sought views on a number of proposals by the DTI and Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) in relation to network access, management and charging in order to ensure that embedded generators had fair and balanced access to distribution networks.
The Group met under the Chairmanship of Dr Brian Wharmby, Technical Director at OFGEM - electricity and gas regulator - to commission, oversee work and develop the Terms of Reference as part of the process leading to the production of a final substantive report. The Group consisted of representatives of the electricity transmission and distribution industries, embedded generators, consumers, the Energy Saving Trust and an independent member. Details of the Group's members are listed under Membership.
The report was presented to the Director Generals of OFGEM, DTI and DETR in draft form. It set out the consensus views of the Group and those they represent. The report contained a number of working papers preferred by rapporteurs who are members of the Group. The Embedded Generation Working Group Report into Network Access Issues report also available in PDF format (PDF, 153 Kb), has been published in its entirety on this web-site. The individual Rapporteur technical papers are already published on this site.
The conclusion of this exercise was a paper taking into account not only the views of the electricity industry and government, but also the views of respondents, interested bodies and individuals. It provided a framework for future action for embedded generation’s access to distribution networks which will be taken forward by the new Embedded Generation Co-ordinating Group (for details of this contact Philip Baker, Tel: 020 7215 2675, email: Philip.Baker@dti.gsi.gov.uk).
Copies of the Report into Network Issues for Embedded Generation
can be obtained from the web.
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