Representation by Chistopher Bird
- Date submitted
- 6 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
My registration comment is that the Examination Authority can and should ask for system value analysis to be carried out on the Rampion 2 Wind farm proposal and that the Examination Panel takes that analysis into account when making recommendations to consent (or not) to the Secretary of State. System value analysis is highly recommended by international bodies including the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the World Bank for all developed and developing countries. The UK government itself jointly funds the World Bank Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP) that offers guidance on how countries may successfully integrate intermittent renewable energy generators (wind and solar) into electric power systems to avoid costly and damaging outages and system failures, especially when the variable renewable contribution passes 30% of the annual generation. For example, see: BRINGING VARIABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY UP TO SCALE: Options for Grid Integration Using Natural Gas and Energy Storage [REDACTED] Appropriate system value modelling was recently provided for the Net-Zero Teesside (NZT) DCO Application now expected to be decided this month (mid November 2023). See: (https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/north-east/the-net-zero-teesside-project/?ipcsection=relreps&relrep=44475 ) And for the good practice system value modelling approach used and results see: [REDACTED] As international bodies argue it is now essential, system value analysis should be routinely incorporated in all UK DCO applications for low-emission power generation infrastructure - especially for schemes the scale of Rampion 2, and given that: Rampion 2 is a £3-4 billion pound investment. It requires a commercial rate of return for international investors as well other power system infrastructure investments to be made in parallel, the cost of which all goes into consumer tariffs. The Applicant, RWE of Germany last month said a 70% payment increase is required for all offshore wind industry companies and international investors in the UK, after the failure of the last UK offshore wind bid round in August 2023 administered by the Crown Estates to attract a single bidder: Please See: [REDACTED] Despite having the highest share of variable Renewable Energy generation of any major economy in the world (wind and solar combined), the UK today has the highest electricity tariffs of any major economy in the world. That is readily verifiable in IEA and OECD statistics. It is therefore common sense and strongly in the public interest to make system value analysis available to better inform the Rampion 2 Examination discussions and evidence taking with Interested Parties, and for the Examination Panel to frame its recommendations. There are competent public bodies in the power sector such as Ofgem which can be routinely tasked as a statutory consultee to undertake that important analysis on behalf of the Examination Authority and for the Department for Energy Security and NetZero that is responsible for energy DCO oversight and taking the final decisions.