System development issues concerning integration of wind generation in Great Britain

The European Union has committed itself to sourcing 20% of its energy from renewables by 2020. Britain's excellent wind resource is expected to make a significant contribution to this target, not least from Scotland and the north of England. However, exploitation of this resource requires appropriate and timely development of the GB electricity transmission system. This depends on appropriate market signals that communicate the need for transmission investment, something that many in the industry in Britain believe current arrangements do not adequately provide. This paper describes a number of proposals currently under discussion, outlines their interactions and highlights some of the key issues currently being debated.