Due to a system error, grid operator Elia has been calculating our electricity consumption incorrectly for months. The network operator announced this on Wednesday. The problems are now resolved. The consumption record of January 7 will therefore be overhauled.
Source: Belga
The error came to light following a study by the federal energy regulator CREG. There was a consumption peak on January 7.
The study dated in April showed that Belgian electricity consumption at the time was 14,357 megawatts, a record. “The Belgian electricity system functions robustly, even under exceptionally high loads,” the CREG concluded at the time.
The study was based on Elia’s estimates of total electricity consumption. But what now appears: consumption has been overestimated at times since the end of November.
Where did it go wrong?
The reason is an error in an algorithm that Elia uses to calculate the production of locally connected onshore wind turbines.
“This led to an overestimation of the estimated local ‘onshore’ wind production. The stronger the expected wind, the greater the difference could become, up to several hundred megawatts,” says Elia. The overestimated production therefore also caused consumption to be overestimated.
That algorithm has since been adjusted. The consumption record of January 7 will therefore not hold. The last record still dates from 2017 and is 13,815 megawatts.
The incorrect estimates had no consequences for the operation of the company or system security. The medium- or long-term forecasts would also hold up, the company assured.
