A ground-breaking study by Pöyry has revealed for the first time how the electricity markets will be profoundly affected by the growth of wind energy. The report, called 'Impact of Intermittency', provides a unique insight into how the electricity sector in the UK and Republic of Ireland could look by 2030.

Both countries have set ambitious targets to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 2020, and wind energy is expected to be the greatest contributor. But the impact of the dramatic amounts of wind generation capacity needed to meet the challenge has largely remained uncertain.

This study highlights the potential hurdles and opportunities facing operators and investors in the energy sector.

The study looks at:
- the likely scale of future wind power and the impact on thermal plant
- the reserve needed on the system to maintain current reliability standards;
- how market prices will be affected and whether too much wind could collapse prices to zero
- whether interconnection between the two markets can provide the golden bullet
- how the each country's market arrangements will cope
- whether power station investment is an attractive proposition.

A summary version of the main report and the press release accompanying the report are available from the links below.