Quantifying CO2 savings from wind power

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2013.07.123

Energy Policy

Volume 63, December 2013, Pages 89-96

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.07.123 Get rights and content

Abstract

A method of quantifying operational CO₂ savings from wind power generation is described with reference to the 2011 Irish electricity grid. Based on an emissions model and $\frac{1}{2} - hourly$ generation time-series for each grid connected thermal generator, it is estimated that wind power saved 0.28 tCO₂/MWh on average, relative to an implied average carbon intensity in the absence of wind of 0.52 tCO₂/MWh. These low savings are explained in terms of the response of individual thermal generators to intermittent wind generation.

Section snippets

Outline

This communication describes an empirical calculation of emissions reductions when intermittent wind power displaces fossil fuel based electricity generation. Using high-quality data for the Irish electricity grid in 2011 and simple statistical models, it is shown that emissions savings may be lower than has often been assumed. This finding is explained primarily in terms of selective displacement of low emissions thermal plant and part-load inefficiency costs imposed by wind power.

Increase in

Data and model

Data on the Irish electricity grid are available from a number of sources (www.eirgrid.com,, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, 2011, Single Electricity Market Operator,). The $\frac{1}{2} - hourly$ “Ex Post Initial” metered generation data are compiled 4 days after the generation date by the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO) (http://www.semo-o.com) and are used for invoicing purposes. This dataset is employed here throughout because it is likely to be the most accurate. SEMO provides a loss

Results and discussion

$\frac{1}{2} - hourly$ time-series for system demand (D_t), total wind generation (W_t), electricity imports (I_t) and total emissions $(co 2_{t})$ were described in the previous section. Fig. 1 suggests that $co 2_{t}$ can be taken as a “response” variable with D_t and W_t as “predictor” variables in a simple linear multivariate regression. Fit coefficients with respect to D_t and W_t are interpreted as “zero-wind grid average emissions intensity” ( $α$ ) and “wind power emissions savings” $(β)$ , respectively. The ratio $\frac{β}{α}$ is the

Conclusion

An empirical approach to the calculation of operational emissions savings was developed in this paper using historical data from the Irish grid. Ireland has a high wind capacity embedded in a diverse portfolio of thermal plant. Savings of 0.28 tCO₂/MWh were found for 2011, versus a zero-wind grid average emissions intensity of 0.52 tCO₂/MWh. This estimate is at the lower end of expectations (ESB National Grid, 2004). In fact, it is lower than the emissions intensity of CCGT plant which plays the

Acknowledgement

The author would like to thank Herbert Inhaber, Hugh Sharman, Laura Malaguzzi Valeri and an anonymous referee for helpful comments.

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CommunicationQuantifying CO2 savings from wind power

Abstract

Section snippets

Outline

Data and model

Results and discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgement

Quantifying the total net benefits of grid integrated wind

IEEE Transactions on Power Systems

Why wind power does nor deliver the expected emissions reductions

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Communication
Quantifying CO₂ savings from wind power