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Northern Scotland wind farms get bulk of curtailment funds
Northern Scotland wind farms get bulk of curtailment funds

The Herald Scotland

time9 hours ago

  • Business
  • The Herald Scotland

Northern Scotland wind farms get bulk of curtailment funds

The figure comes from a report on the curtailment of renewable generation facilities by energy market specialists at Montel Analytics. The payments made under the curtailment system reflect the problems caused by the fact that wind farms were developed before the network capacity required to take all their output to centres of demand was available. Montel said Britain suffered from a growing disconnect between renewable generation and grid infrastructure capacity. The scale of the problem is most obvious in respect of northern Scotland following a surge in wind farm development off the area and onshore in recent years. READ MORE: SNP Government renewables fixation absurd as wind farm switch off bill soars The wind farms concerned are hundreds of miles from areas in England where demand is greatest. 'The region of northern Scotland has seen the most curtailed renewable energy volume in Great Britain by far,' said analysts at Montel. They calculated that wind farms in Scotland generated around 37% less energy than they could have done in the first six months of this year as a result of curtailment. Montel reckons the power concerned would have been sufficient to meet all Scottish domestic energy demand during the period. The £116m paid in respect of northern Scotland represented 76% of the total £152m cost for Great Britain. Senior Energy Market Analyst at Montel Fintan Devenney said the curtailment problem could intensify in coming years with the pace of the rollout of wind projects set to be maintained. Some 20 offshore wind projects won support in the ScotWind leasing round in 2022. READ MORE: Scotland set for surge in wind farm developments amid Donald Trump opposition Mr Devenney noted that if all these projects were completed Scottish wind generation capacity would increase more than threefold. 'If local flexibility and grid buildout were to remain at current levels, curtailment volumes and costs could rise by a similar order of magnitude,' said Mr Devenney. Under the curtailment system the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has made payments to operators of gas-fired power stations to encourage them to produce power at times when wind farms have been paid to switch off. READ MORE: Oil giant hails North Sea performance as it plans hefty job cuts In June NESO revealed that the total cost of the payments it made to balance supply with demand increased to £2.7bn in the latest year from £2.5bn in the preceding period. The costs added around £3 a month to household energy bills. NESO said: 'Whilst payments to generators are distributed throughout the country the cause of cost is concentrated in Scotland.' Montel's Mr Devenney cautioned: 'Unless policymakers pay attention to the need to marry renewable power with public systems and infrastructure, then an outdated transmission network could continue to drive up consumer bills.' The report found around six times more output was constrained in respect of northern Scotland wind farms in the first six months of 2025 than in respect of facilities in southern Scotland.

Wind farms in north of Scotland paid £117 million to not generate power
Wind farms in north of Scotland paid £117 million to not generate power

Press and Journal

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Press and Journal

Wind farms in north of Scotland paid £117 million to not generate power

Static wind turbines in the north of Scotland cost consumers £117 million in the first six months of this year. The electricity couldn't be used locally or sent to areas of higher demand, so wind farms were paid to stop their output. According to research from energy analytics firm Montel, the curtailed generation amounted to four terawatt-hours (TWh). That is enough to power every household in Scotland for six months. North wind farms accounted for 86% of the total of the electricity cut back across Britain – a 15% rise compared with the same time last year. The National Electricity System Operator (NESO) makes sure generators do not produce more than the local grid can manage. The costs are recovered through charges on consumers' bills. Graham Lang of campaign group Scotland Against Spin said it 'makes no sense' to build more wind farms or extend existing ones in the north of Scotland. He believes they should be built closer to where the electricity is needed. Mr Lang said: 'Ultimately, it is us, the consumers, who have to pay for this through our energy bills. 'It is an ongoing scandal and it needs to stop now before bills rise even further and our iconic landscapes are trashed for ever.' SSE Renewables is one of the partners behind the giant Seagreen development, Scotland's largest offshore wind farm. A spokesman for SSE said: 'Decisions to constrain generation rest solely with NESO – not individual companies. 'Grid constraints highlight the urgent need to accelerate investment in the electricity network, so we can unlock the full potential of the UK's clean energy and reduce bills for consumers in the long run.' True North senior energy advisor Allister Thomas said the constraint payments are a 'result of decades of underinvestment' in the grid infrastructure. In 2023, Highlands consumers were set back nearly £68m due to the curtailed energy. He believes initiatives, such as the 2030 Clean Power Action Plan, can help the government address the issue. Mr Thomas said: 'Going forward, the offshore wind resource of the north of Scotland has potential to be a driving force in decarbonising the UK as a whole. 'Providing huge economic opportunities to communities across north and north east Scotland. 'However, this requires build out of our grid and a balanced approach to the transition which protects our existing oil and gas supply chain, so it can transition over time to these burgeoning renewables opportunities.' In total, Scottish wind farms were paid not to produce 37% of all planned output in the first half of this year. And in June, 49.1% of planned output from northern Scotland wind farms was curtailed. Scottish energy secretary Gillian Martin said: 'I have been clear that the current UK energy system is not fit for purpose. 'Significant investment is required to achieve a clean power system.' NESO said it continually reviews the balance between the costs of continued constraint payments against the construction of new network infrastructure to ensure consumers get the right end of the deal. A spokesman added: 'NESO is determined to play its part in ensuring we keep the costs of balancing the electricity system as low as possible for consumers. 'Through the development of new tools and close collaboration with industry, we have saved consumers at least £1.2bn over the past two years across the costs within our control.'

AI revolution brings innovation & anxiety across global sectors
AI revolution brings innovation & anxiety across global sectors

Techday NZ

time18-07-2025

  • Business
  • Techday NZ

AI revolution brings innovation & anxiety across global sectors

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is swiftly transforming the way businesses operate, heightening both innovation and complexity across sectors. As AI Appreciation Day brings global attention to these advances, industry leaders across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and beyond are urging organisations to not only recognise AI's achievements but also navigate its associated challenges with care, strategy, and inclusivity. AI - not just a tool but a vital resource Daniel Hein, Field CTO at Informatica Asia Pacific and Japan, highlights the rapid adoption of Generative AI in APAC, noting the region's ambition to stay ahead on the global stage. "AI goes beyond just a tool – it's a vital resource. It supports smarter adaptation measures, accelerates resilience planning, and fosters inclusive innovation that transcends industries and national boundaries," says Hein. He outlines the influence of Agentic AI in optimising decision-making for sectors such as energy and finance, while Generative AI is democratising problem-solving, empowering even non-technical users. However, Hein stresses that organisations must strengthen data foundations and prioritise continuous upskilling, especially in AI literacy. "Investing in strong data infrastructure and continuous upskilling is critical to fully harness AI's capabilities and future-proof organisations," he advises. AI extends beyond productivity gains AI's influence extends well beyond productivity gains. In cybersecurity, Bernard Montel, EMEA Technical Director and Security Strategist at Tenable, describes how AI is integral to modern defence strategies. Montel points to the technology's ability to analyse vast datasets, automate threat detection, and maintain secure systems. He emphasises that AI should be viewed as an augmenting tool, not a replacement for human talent. "This means designing systems where AI handles repetitive tasks, freeing humans to focus on complex problem-solving, innovation, and ethical oversight," Montel explains. Yet, as AI grows in sophistication, so do the threats. The proliferation of AI-generated deepfakes and automated malware has heightened the need for robust cyber defence strategies, including exposure management and comprehensive employee training. Montel urges organisations to embrace ethical AI development and continued vigilance to unlock the technology's full potential while protecting digital infrastructure. The benefit and risk of AI development The software development sector has also felt AI's rapid impact. Nick Durkin, Field CTO at Harness, acknowledges the increased speed of code generation delivered by AI, but warns of a wider 'blast radius' of errors if flawed AI-generated code enters production. "Generating code is easy, but getting it safely into production is the hard part," Durkin notes. He advocates for embedding AI throughout the software delivery lifecycle, not just in code writing, to support higher-quality and safer software deployments. Meanwhile, Michael Bachman, Head of Architecture and AI Strategy at Boomi Innovation Group, points to the emergence of the "Agent Economy," in which autonomous AI agents operate across platforms. With the increasing complexity and the risk of "agent sprawl," Bachman stresses the necessity for a centralised framework to govern AI agents and manage their interactions safely and effectively. AI adoption grows, but anxiety remains The legal field is no exception to AI's reach. Jennifer Poon, Legal Solutions Director at NetDocuments, observes that lawyers themselves are now leading technology adoption, recognising AI's potential to boost productivity by automating routine work. She recommends integrating AI directly into the workflows and systems lawyers already use, ensuring the technology enhances precision and security without disrupting established protocols. Model Context Protocol (MCP), described by Mehdi Goodarzi, Global Head – GenAI Consulting at Hexaware Technologies, offers a promising way to scale AI responsibly across enterprises. MCP enables large language models and agents to share context and interact "intelligently" across platforms, but Goodarzi highlights the need for ongoing development of governance and privacy standards as the technology matures. Despite the enthusiasm among business leaders, research from WalkMe has uncovered significant employee anxiety about AI adoption. Vivek Behl, VP Strategy, warns that many workers, especially from younger generations, feel overwhelmed and left behind by the swift arrival of new tools. Survey data from WalkMe and Opinium indicates that 71% of UK office workers feel new AI tools are being introduced faster than they can learn to use them, while nearly half report feeling more worried than excited about AI at work. Behl calls on organisations to focus on employee experience and support, warning that "digital adoption isn't just a nice-to-have – it's now essential to realising AI's full value." Ensuring that employees are comfortable and proficient with new tools is crucial to embedding AI successfully and mitigating risks associated with rapid technological change. Success isn't measured by innovation alone, but responsible integration As AI matures, its appreciation day serves as a timely reminder: success is not measured by technological innovation alone, but by an organisation's ability to integrate AI responsibly, support its workforce, and safeguard against new risks. The coming years will likely see even more transformative opportunities - and challenges - as businesses seek to balance AI's promise with prudent governance and a focus on human-centred values.

The weather phenomenon driving up Britain's electricity bills
The weather phenomenon driving up Britain's electricity bills

Telegraph

time12-07-2025

  • Climate
  • Telegraph

The weather phenomenon driving up Britain's electricity bills

A surge of windless heatwaves hitting Britain this summer is wreaking havoc on electricity markets and driving up bills for consumers, according to energy experts. The industry is already familiar with 'dunkelflautes' – the increasingly common spells of freezing windless winter weather when wind and solar farm output plummets. Now it is reporting a similar 'hitzeflaute' phenomenon in summer, with longer spells of warm windless weather also becoming more prevalent with climate change. Hitzeflaute comes from hitze – the German word for heat – and flaute, which means lull, reflecting the absence of strong winds in such spells. It means Europe and the UK are becoming increasingly dependent on solar power during the day but, in the absence of wind, having to ramp up gas, coal and nuclear power stations in the evening. The phenomenon also causes massive market swings with power prices often going negative in daytime when solar is peaking, but surging up to £200 or £300 per megawatt hour when the sun goes down, especially if wind output is low. The UK faces just such a spell this weekend, with a high pressure weather system bringing clear skies, sunshine and low winds that will coincide with the Wimbledon tennis finals. 'These spells are becoming longer and more frequent and hitzeflaute is emerging as the new term for them,' said Jean-Paul Harreman, a senior analyst at Montel, which specialises in European energy data and convening the first conference on hitzeflautes this week. 'The weather is changing at a time when the energy transition is making us more dependent on the weather to generate our electricity from wind and solar. So it is all causing a degree of chaos in the energy markets.'

Love Island star finally confirms SPLIT from boyfriend – before hinting they're friends with benefits
Love Island star finally confirms SPLIT from boyfriend – before hinting they're friends with benefits

The Irish Sun

time16-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Irish Sun

Love Island star finally confirms SPLIT from boyfriend – before hinting they're friends with benefits

A LOVE Island star has finally confirmed she has broken-up with a boyfriend. The reality star, 30, made the revelation benefits . 5 A Love Island star spilled the beans on her relationship status on last night's After Sun Credit: ITV 5 Kaz Crossley appeared on the show and revealed she was no longer with Montel McKenzie Credit: ITV 5 Kaz's villa BFF Gabby Allen revealed that her friend was 'friends with benefits' with Montel Credit: ITV 5 Kaz met Montel McKenzie on Love Island: All Stars Credit: ITV However, over the last few months On last night's Love Island After Sun host Maya Jama, 30, grilled The stunning star appeared on the Love Island Sunday night spin-off show alongside her villa BFF, READ MORE ON LOVE ISLAND When asked about Montel, Kaz replied that they were just "very good friends." Not missing a beat Gabby quickly chimed in: "With benefits!" The three women all began to laugh as Kaz cheekily replied: "Well a girl's got needs!" Kaz's break-up confession comes after months of Most read in TV The clip showed them looking close as they headed in for a kiss, before pulling away. 'There is NO way' say Love Island fans as couple reveal if they've split after weeks of rumours But now, after six months of dating , the villa couple have called it quits - although they are still on VERY friendly terms. Both Kaz and Montel didn't have the easiest time in the All Stars Villa in January. They got together just a week before After they were axed, they vowed to give their romance a go on the outside world. 5 Kaz and Montel teased fans with a TikTok clip before it was revealed they had broken up Credit: TikTok/@kazcrossley

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