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Gas Regional Investment Plan of the South Region 2017 |
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Residential & Commercial & Industrial & others
Yearly Modulation Factor (2015)
Power Generation
Total demand
France
Portugal
Spain
0
1.0
0.5
0.2
0.1
0.7
0.6
0.3
0.4
0.9
0.8
Residential & Commercial & Industrial & others
Yearly Modulation Factor (2016)
Power Generation
Total demand
France
Portugal
Spain
0
1.0
0.5
0.2
0.1
0.7
0.6
0.3
0.4
0.9
0.8
Residential & Commercial & Industrial & others
Yearly Modulation Factor (2016)
Power Generation
Total demand
France
Portugal
Spain
0
1.0
0.5
0.2
0.1
0.7
0.6
0.3
0.4
0.9
0.8
Residential & Commercial & Industrial & others
Yearly Modulation Factor (2016)
Power Generation
Total demand
France
Portugal
Spain
0
1.0
0.5
0.2
0.1
0.7
0.6
0.3
0.4
0.9
0.8
0
100
60
France
Portugal
% of each Country's Peak Demand over
Peak Demand of the South Region (2016)
Spain
40
20
80
%
5%
62%
33%
Figure 3.10:
Yearly modulation factor for Final Demand (Residential & Commercial & Industrial & others),
Power Generation demand and Total Demand, for France, Portugal and Spain
(Source: ENTSOG TYNDP 2017 data, own elaboration)
Figure 3.11:
Share of each country (France, Portugal and
Spain) in the peak demand of the South Region
(Source: ENTSOG TYNDP 2017 data, own
elaboration)
In the South Region, the combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs) are playing an
important role as a support in the development of renewable energy production.
Intermittency and unpredictability of renewable energy sources like wind require a
flexible back-up. CCGTs can provide efficient flexibility and therefore makes the
CCGT an enabler to introduce the development of renewable energies.
Nevertheless, gas for power generation is in competition with other sources of
electricity, and the role of gas in electricity generation can vary according to the
hydrologic regime, the gas prices (compared to other sources of power and flexibility,
such as coal), the electricity demand and prices, and political decisions (price of
CO ² permits, subsidies on renewable energy, etc.).
The yearly modulation factor is defined as the daily average gas demand divided by
the daily peak demand. A high yearly modulation factor means demand is relatively
uniform, even in peak situation. A low yearly modulation factor shows that a high
demand is set; to service that peak demand, capacity is sitting idle for long periods.
As it can be seen in Figure 3.10, France’s total yearly modulation factor is lower
compared to Portugal and Spain. This is mainly due to the seasonal modulation in
France that is much less pronounced in Portugal and Spain. To cope with this sea-
sonal modulation, France has developed important underground storage facilities.