REMA review with Wendel Hortop and Robyn Lucas (Modo Energy)
Mar 28, 2024
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Energy market expert Wendel Hortop and renewable energy specialist Robyn Lucas discuss key takeaways from REMA, including zonal pricing, Contracts for Difference scheme adaptations, settlement period changes, Capacity Market reforms, and lithium-ion technologies role in long-duration energy storage.
Transition to zonal pricing in energy markets promotes efficient operations for storage and interconnectors.
Capacity market reforms aim to integrate technology-specific targets for a diverse energy mix, amid challenges of transitioning to net zero.
Deep dives
Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA): Transition to Sensory Net Zero Electricity System
REMA, the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements, aims to design markets facilitating the transition to a sensory net zero electricity system. The existing market set up from the late 1990s is outdated for the increasing share of renewable generation. Consultation highlights the shift away from location-based pricing to zonal pricing combined with a national price. Other reforms discussed include shortening settlement periods, capacity market reforms, and accommodating evolving technologies like long-duration energy storage and hydrogen power schemes.
Zonal Pricing and Transmission Constraints
The consultation considers zonal pricing to address system constraints, promoting efficient operations for storage and interconnectors. Zonal pricing divides the market into geographic areas with separate wholesale prices to reflect supply and demand variations. The example of importing power from Norway to London despite constraints and the subsequent need to curtail wind in Scotland illustrates the importance of zonal pricing.
Transition Challenges and Uncertainties in Energy Market Transition
Transitioning energy markets face challenges like balancing reliability needs with low-carbon goals. The optimized capacity market proposal integrates minimum capacity targets for different technologies, promoting a diverse energy mix. Concerns arise regarding the transition to net zero, especially in incentivizing low-carbon technologies effectively amidst uncertainties and policy risks.
Role of Energy Storage and Role of National Grid in Market Reforms
The discourse around energy storage emphasizes the need for long-duration solutions and technology-neutral capacity targets. The consultation's focus on dispatchable power agreements, CCUS, and long-duration energy storage underscores the evolving dynamics in the energy transition. Critiques regarding exclusion of lithium and challenges in aligning policy support with technology advancements highlight the complexity of ensuring a competitive and low-carbon energy market.
The second Review of Energy Market Arrangements or REMA, has been released - so what are the key takeaways that have arisen in this round and how could these changes impact battery energy storage?
In today’s episode, guest host Ed Porter is joined by Modo Energy’s Robyn Lucas and Wendel Hortop Over the conversation they discuss:
The realities of zonal pricing for locational wholesale price signals.
How the Contracts for Difference scheme could be adapted to support renewable energy growth whilst supporting system needs.
Possible changes to settlement periods and how a more granular price signal would have a positive impact on batteries.
Capacity Market reforms and why this is necessary for ensuring the secured capacity works in a net-zero future.
Lithium-ion technologies role within the long-duration energy storage conversation.
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