New gridwatch

Actually interconnects are arbitrageurs. They tend to keep electricity prices LOWER.

Cf the slight concern when the Moyle interconnect went down, and Ireland's flaky wind farms had to be backed up with expensive gas, instead of slightly cheaper whatever-the-UK-had-at-the-time.. you cant make a market in power if you have essential near monopolies.

In article , The Natural Philosopher writes

What's CCGT, please? presumably gas?

Yes, combined cycle gas turbine, e.g gas turbine running one generator, the heat from which feeds a steam turbine running a second generator. Alternativley both turbines could be on the same shaft feeding a single generator.

Thank you.

Combined cycle gas turbine. A jet engine whose exhaust runs a steam boiler and steam turbine.

Very efficient except when being asked to ramp up and down to keep the wind balanced. Then so inefficient that some people claim adding the windmills increases the carbon foot print.