Thursday 12th of May 2016 | Posted In: Generating energy, Generate, Renewable energy

The TRIADs have gone... until next winter

Generators, and large users of electricity, can derive useful cash from coordinating their electricity use with the National Grid TRIAD periods. These are three half-hour periods in the year when national electricity demand is at its highest. Users are paid cash for shedding load, or having generation running during these times. The TRIAD rates range from £32-45,000 per MW of electricity exported during the TRIAD period, so it’s a big money issue. The trouble is that no-one knows when these times are going to be. In fact, we only get to know when they have occurred some months after the event.

As it turns out, National Grid announced the final TRIAD dates and times for winter 2015/16 a week or so ago. As winter wasn’t, well, very winter-like, it was one of the more challenging seasons for issuing TRIAD warnings. Fortunately, as long as they hadn’t broken down, all of our electricity generating clients were running during the TRIADs.

The confirmed winter 2015/16 TRIADs were:

  • Wednesday 25th November at 17:30.
  • Tuesday 19th January at 17:30.
  • Monday 15th February at 18:30.

In spite of the somewhat abnormal winter, the outcome was a relatively ‘traditional’ one in so much as they were all within the usual Monday –Thursday range (only one outside of this since 1990). The ‘abnormality’ was the final one on 15th February, being the closest to the end of the TRIAD season ever (well, since the start of my dataset – 1990), and at the latest time of day as well – 18:30.

With embedded generators and large users of electricity becoming much more aware of the value of reacting to TRIADs, trying to ‘guess’ when they will be each year, will become ever more challenging. However, with National Grid forecasting the TRIAD rates to increase, by as much as 60% in many regions, between winter 2016-17 and winter 2020-21, there is certainly a lot of value to be captured. One other step in maximising your TRIAD income is ensuring that your PPA (power purchase agreement) pays you your fair share. If you are unsure, get in touch with us on 024 7669 8899.