Energy, Oil & Gas Magazine Issue 220 May 2024 | Page 73

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BritNed
“ In terms of services , we offer capacity allocation , allowing market participants to reserve transmission capacity on the interconnector , and subsequently nominate power flows between markets , while the flexibility of the asset helps to provide stability of the electricity grid through system operator actions such as congestion management and reserve capacity .
“ Interconnectors have a key role to play in the journey to Net Zero as they enable countries to easily move electricity from where it is in abundance ( lower prices ) to where it is needed ( higher prices ) resulting in greener , cheaper and more secure energy for consumers . As we connect more renewable generation to our energy system , interconnectors will become even more important by enabling us to move energy between connected countries and make the most of the power generated .”
However , Stewart is quick to point out that BritNed ’ s operations have evolved and adapted to new demands as the energy transition gains momentum across Europe . “ In the early days of operation , we mainly imported from the Netherlands to the UK , but this has changed with the growth of renewable energy on both sides ,” he explains . “ We help grid operators manage excesses and shortfalls , as they can be exchanged to meet demand as required . Currently , we are primarily importing from the Netherlands to the UK during the day due to high solar volumes in the Netherlands . However , at night , the direction of flow usually changes due to the UK ’ s own generation mix so we then export from the UK to the Netherlands .
“ However , this change in market behavior doesn ’ t come without its challenges and additional maintenance is needed to ensure the asset is kept in top working condition .
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