Japan Solar Update: No.45 (May 15 ~ 19, 2023)
The Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) presented a proposal to accept renewable energy connections in the Hokkaido area without any requirements at the 45th Gas Basic Policy Subcommittee, Grid Working Group.
Currently, power generation companies of a certain size or larger are required to install storage batteries to suppress output fluctuations of renewable energy, but this will be officially abolished in July after simulations concluded that there will be no cross-sectional shortage of regulating power even without output fluctuation countermeasures.
<Key points>
- The results of estimation of output curtailment rate by area were presented: Tohoku (highest) at 54.2%, followed by Hokkaido at 53.6%, Chugoku and Kyushu at about 25%, and other areas at less than 10%
- As for the effect of the output curtailment reduction measures, the effect of the grid measures to transmit power to other areas using interregional interconnection lines is particularly large
- How to respond to the dispatching capacity constraints for the introduction of renewable energy in Hokkaido, and as scheduled, applications for system impact study that do not need fluctuation mitigation requirements will start to be accepted from July 1, 2023
- Consultation on the contents of the application documents will begin in as early as April 2023, as soon as Hokkaido Electric Power is ready
Long-term outlook on the output curtailment of renewable energy (estimation results)
– It is necessary to note that the number of output curtailment hours that actually occur varies depending on power demand, operating status of power sources, etc., and that these are only estimates and are not guaranteed as upper limits by general power transmission and distribution operators.
– Regarding the utilization of interconnection lines, the results of trial calculation considering the amount of power that can be received in the power receiving area were also presented.
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- Hokkaido Electric Power reported that the amount of required dispatching capability assuming additional interconnection of wind power has decreased from the previous estimation result by refining the simulation (consideration of smoothing effect, etc.).
- Since it is not expected that there will be a shortage of dispatching capability for the time being, applications for system impact study that do not need fluctuation mitigation requirements will start to be accepted from July 1, 2023 as scheduled.
- Since the concentration of applications is expected, discussions on the contents of application documents (consultation on interconnection points and forms, etc.) will start in as early as April 2023, as soon as Hokkaido Electric Power is ready.
Figure 2 Summary of the estimation of the outlook of output curtailment of renewable energy Source: Materials of the 45th meeting of Working Group on Grid Connection of Renewable Energy (March 14, 2023), compiled by RTS Corporatiom