Harnessing Curtailed Wind-Generated Electricity via Electrical Water Heating Aggregation to Alleviate Energy Poverty: A Use Case in Ireland

Abstract

Ireland experiences high energy poverty rates alongside surplus wind energy resources. With 77% of Irish households equipped with electrical immersion heaters for domestic hot water (DHW) generation, this study proposes an Electrical Water Heating Aggregation (EWHA) scheme. The scheme allocates surplus wind-generated electricity to provide DHW to fuel-poor households, thereby alleviating energy poverty through harnessing curtailed wind energy. Through a developed wind-generated electricity allocation model and half-hourly data analysis for a weather year, this research assesses the feasibility and economic viability of the EWHA scheme, focusing on the householder as the primary benefactor from the scheme (as opposed to ancillary grid service provision). The results suggest an optimal aggregation size where maximum curtailment and carbon offset coincide with maximum benefits for participants. The findings indicate that fuel-poor households in Ireland could receive a full DHW tank every three weeks using surplus wind energy, harnessing 89% of overnight curtailed wind energy and offsetting 33 MtCO2 annually. Moreover, the scheme could potentially save the Irish state approximately EUR 4 million by 2030, increasing to EUR 11 million by 2050, in carbon costs. Overall, this research demonstrates the potential of EWHA schemes to alleviate energy poverty, optimise wind energy utilisation, and contribute significantly to carbon emission reduction targets.