Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) announced on 8 April that it has successfully used Constraint Managed Zones (CMZs) on the Isle of Islay, thereby supporting system security in an economically viable manner.
Constraint Managed Zones are an alternative to traditional generation being used when the main electricity network is temporarily disconnected. The use of renewables and electricity storage technology is used as an alternative to diesel generators or back-up power stations.
SSEN, which has drawn from its CMZ on Islay since October 2019, said it has avoided 2,450 tonnes of CO2 emissions in the process and saved customers £230,000 through avoidance of traditional network reinforcement.
Stewart Reid, Head of Future Networks at SSEN, said: “The proliferation of low carbon technologies is creating more opportunities to take a low-carbon approach to addressing network constraint. Managing our energy system in a smarter way helps decarbonisation efforts in a cost-effective manner for the communities we serve.”
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