Security of supply

In considering energy security of supply, there are two key issues:

Technical security of supply relates to the intermittent nature of electricity supply from sources such as wind power. Analysis for the Committee’s December 2008 and October 2009 reports suggests that technical security of supply can be maintained even with high penetrations of intermittent renewable electricity such as wind, alongside significant investment in relatively inflexible plant such as nuclear. Back-up to deal with periods with low wind, or unexpected changes in wind, can be provided at affordable cost.
Geopolitical security of supply relates to the price volatility of fossil fuels, as well as the risk of supply interruptions to imported sources. Concerns about this type of security of supply create a significant additional rationale for improved energy efficiency, and the development of electricity generation capacity which are not dependent on volatile fossil fuels, such as renewables and nuclear.

Read the full analysis on energy security of supply, in the Committee’s December 2008 report, and the further analysis on the impact of intermittency in the Committee’s October 2009 report.

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