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Burn Hours Review Methodology Statement

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Burn Hours Review Methodology Statement

Guidance Note

Background

The burn hours published on the BSC Website were calculated from historic PECU array data. The data appears to contain a number of anomalies. In order to re-calculate the data on an equitable basis by GSP region and PECU type a methodology is required that will provide a reasonable estimate of the expected Burn Hours.

The Methodology

The methodology consists of a number of steps:

Step 1: Defining a baseline set of data for each GSP Group for the most common PECU type (70/35);

Step 2: Defining a baseline set of data for each GSP Group removing deemed weather effects;

Step 3: Defining the net annual effect of weather by GSP;

Step 4: Defining the minutes per lux difference effects for PECUs;

Step 5: Extrapolating the data to different PECU types.

Step 1: Calculating the average offset at the PECU Array

PECU array data was provided to ELEXON by Meter Administrators.

The data provided the following information:

The average ‘Burn Hours’ per day and the count of the number of PECUs.

Heading

Type

Hours

Count of PECUs

01/09/2006

821

10.042

23

02/09/2006

821

10.185

23

03/09/2006

821

10.236

23

04/09/2006

821

10.399

23

05/09/2006

821

10.25

23

06/09/2006

821

10.461

23

The Latitude and longitude for the PECU Array:

Array ID

Latitude

Longitude

Degrees

Minutes

Degrees

Minutes

0201

50

12

5

17

W

0203

50

42

3

38

W

0204

51

1

3

5

W

0205

50

18

4

5

W

0206

51

27

2

34

W

The Sunrise and Sunset times at the array are calculated and the hours between Sunset and Sunrise are calculated for each day to facilitate the calculation of ‘Offset’ minutes for each day of data provided for the array:

Active Date

Type

Hours

Count of PECUs

Offset Minutes

01/09/2006

821

10.042

23

24.48

02/09/3006

821

10.185

23

19.9

03/09/2006

821

10.236

23

21.84

04/09/2006

821

10.399

23

15.06

05/09/2006

821

10.25

23

28

06/09/2006

821

10.461

23

18.34

The offset values are then ‘cleaned’ by exclusion and any values that are outside the 5th and 95th percentile of the distribution of the offsets at the array. An average offset for the array over a two year period can then be calculated:

Cleaned offset

-23.62

The process is repeated across 10 arrays with the same type of PECUs (70/35s) with 2 years of data.

Step 1: Extrapolating the results by GSP Group

In order to extrapolate the data to other GSP Groups a standardised set to latitude and longitudes were defined based on one previously used in Settlement for profiling:

Region

GSP Group

Site

Latitude

Longitude

Eastern

_A

Bury St Edmunds

52:15:00 N

00:43:00 E

East Midlands

_B

Nottingham

52:58:00 N

01:10:00 W

London

_C

London

51:30:00 N

00:10:00 W

Merseyside & North Wales

_D

Rhyl

53:19:00 N

03:29:00 W

Midlands

_E

Birmingham

52:30:00 N

01:50:00 W

Northern

_F

Newcastle

54:59:00 N

01:35:00 W

North Western

_G

Manchester

53:30:00 N

02:15:00 W

Southern

_H

Andover

51:13:00 N

01:28:00 W

South Eastern

_J

Tunbridge Wells

51:08:00 N

00:16:00 E

South Wales

_K

Carmarthen

51:52:00 N

04:19:00 W

South Western

_L

Exeter

50:43:00 N

03:31:00 W

Yorkshire

_M

Leeds

53:50:00 N

01:35:00 W

South Scotland

_N

Glasgow

55:52:00 N

04:15:00 W

North Scotland

_P

Inverness

57:27:00 N

04:14:00 W

Calculation of the hours between sunset and sunrise for a 365 day year gives the following set of results:

GSP Group

Sunset To Sunrise

_A

4283

_B

4280

_C

4285

_D

4279

_E

4282

_F

4273

_G

4278

_H

4286

_J

4286

_K

4284

_L

4287

_M

4277

_N

4269

_P

4262

The average ‘Offset’ values per data at each array were applied to the Sunset to Sunrise hours. The data was then averaged over the 10 Arrays to give the following baseline estimate for 70/35 PECUs:

GSP Group

PECU Array 821

_A

4151

_B

4149

_C

4153

_D

4147

_E

4150

_F

4141

_G

4147

_H

4154

_J

4154

_K

4152

_L

4156

_M

4145

_N

4138

_P

4130

Step 2: Defining a baseline set of data for each GSP Group removing deemed weather effects

Analysis of the PECU array data was undertaken to find the distribution of offset values:

complex image of process

The 95th Percentile of this distribution (37 minutes) was taken as the point at which the PECU would operate under favourable conditions (e.g. clear skies or light cloud cover). It was recognised that reflected light from light cloud cover can give offset values higher than the figure taken for the purpose of this review.

Applying the offset value to the hours between sunset and sunrise for the year gave the following base lined estimate for the 70/35 PECU with the deemed weather effects removed:

GSP Group

OFFSET 37 mins

_A

4057

_B

4055

_C

4059

_D

4053

_E

4056

_F

4047

_G

4053

_H

4060

_J

4061

_K

4058

_L

4062

_M

4051

_N

4044

_P

4036

Step 3: Defining the net annual effect of weather by GSP

Differencing the values in Steps 1 and 2 gives an estimate of the additional burn hours caused by weather effects. The rationale for stripping out the weather effects is to facilitate different values of weather uplift per GSP Group should suitable data become available at a future point. It should be noted that the available PECU array data was limited in its national coverage. The differencing gave the following results:

GSP

Weather Uplift

_A

94

_B

94

_C

94

_D

94

_E

94

_F

94

_G

94

_H

94

_J

93

_K

94

_L

94

_M

94

_N

94

_P

94

Step 4: Defining the minutes per Lux difference effects for PECUs

It was recognised that in reality the minutes different per lux would vary according to weather affects and proximity to sunrise or sunset. As a pragmatic solution a linear approach was undertaken for the review as it would be equitable and provide a clear relationship between the different PECU ratings.

An estimate of 0.15 minutes per lux was derived following consultation with several Meter Administrators. Additionally, where the calculated daily minutes per lux exceed half the offset minutes (37/2 = 18.5) then the calculation is defaulted to 18.5 minutes per day. This approach was introduced to prevent unrealistic extrapolation at some of the higher lux ratings.

Step 5: Extrapolating the data to different PECU types: Annual difference by PECU type

To derive the difference per year, for PECUs with different ratings, the difference in the lux levels of the PECU ratings at sunset and sunrise was multiplied by the minutes per lux value and 365 (for each day) to get an estimate of the annual difference in hours attributable to the PECU rating. So for a 35/18 PECU the calculation would be as follows:

Base Lux

New Lux

Lux Diff

Mins per lux

Hours per year difference

After Sunset (On)

70

35

-35

0.15

-31.9375

Before Sunrise (Off)

35

18

-17

0.15

-15.5125

The estimate shows that a 35/18 is deemed to switch the lamp on for 47 hours less per year than the 70/35.

Step 5: Extrapolating the data to different PECU types: Completing the calculation

The calculation was then completed by applying the Annual PECU ‘Offset’ to the base lined 70/35 values calculated in Step 2 and adding in the weather effects calculated in Step 3. So the results for the calculated 35/18 are as follows:

GSP

Avg. PECU Array 70/35

Sunset To Sunrise

Offset 37 mins

Weather Uplift

Calculated Values

_A

4151

4283

4057

94

4103

_B

4149

4280

4055

94

4101

_C

4153

4285

4059

94

4106

_D

4147

4279

4053

94

4100

_E

4150

4282

4056

94

4103

_F

4141

4273

4047

94

4094

_G

4147

4278

4053

94

4099

_H

4154

4286

4060

94

4107

_J

4154

4286

4061

93

4107

_K

4152

4284

4058

94

4105

_L

4156

4287

4062

94

4108

_M

4145

4277

4051

94

4098

_N

4138

4269

4044

94

4090

_P

4130

4262

4036

94

4083

Average

4100

It should be noted the same results are achieved by differencing the PECU Offset value to the values in the Average PECU array data for the 70/35 in the first column. However, the weather uplift values may be adjusted by GSP group in the future should suitable data become available.

Part Night PECUs

The hours for the part night PECUs are calculated by deducting off the appropriate number of hours from the out-turn calculations taking into account GMT and Clock time.

Need more information?

For more information please contact the BSC Service Desk or call 0370 010 6950.

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