Wind on the system: grid integration of wind power

The paper questions the common assumption that the large scale use of renewable sources of energy inevitability calls for electricity storage. The discussion centres on wind power in the UK and the advanced system in Denmark where the overall wind energy penetration is about 20%: the arguments are equally applicable elsewhere. The subject is discussed under the headings (i) the electricity network, (ii) the matching of supply and demand, (iii) how the electricity system is run, (iv) the intermittent nature of renewables, (v) the cost of integrating wind power, (vi) the competitive market and the new UK trading arrangements and (vii) prediction systems in Denmark. (uk)