Renewable Energy. How to Balance the Electric Grid

Speaker: Professor Peter Tavner (Durham University)

Prof Peter Tavner, former Head of Engineering at Durham University, describes how renewable electrical energy source variability can be balanced within the European electrical grid. He shows the changing impact of wind, solar and other renewable sources on the market and technical operation of the grid. In this context he explains the relative importance of generation diversity and the roles of grid control and of storage.

Peter Tavner is an Emeritus Professor of the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences at Durham University. He received an MA in Mechanical Sciences from Cambridge University, a PhD from Southampton University, studying electromagnetism and a DSc from Durham University. Following his PhD he worked for the UK Electricity Supply Industry. He then held senior research, development and technical positions in manufacturing industry including working as Group Technical Director of FKI Energy Technology, an international business manufacturing electrical machines, drives and wind turbines in the UK, Holland, Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic.

After joining Durham University he became Principal Investigator of the Supergen Wind Consortium, http://www.supergen-wind.org.uk/ and Principal Investigator of the Sino-British Future Renewable Energy Network Systems (FRENS) Consortium, www.reliable-renewables.com/.

He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Technology.