Imbalances Charts

Charts Included In This Section:

The following charts are included within this section:

• Imbalances - plots the levels of imbalance at a particular group of units across the market over a period of time
• Imbalances Heatmap - plots over a period of time the levels of imbalance as a percentage of installed capacity

What Are Imbalances?

When units start they can trip and be unable to generate at the levels they intended for instance due to a turbine or a boiler fault. Imbalance volumes can be recorded half -hourly and can then be analysed to see what imbalance activity is occurring in the market at any time and from this the impact of imbalances on system prices can be considered (see the System Summary chart in the System section).

By considering half-hourly imbalances the cause of any price peaks can often be identified and also by considering historical levels of imbalances it is possible to note which units are particularly prone to imbalancing and the typical nature of imbalances at units.

To see trips the BM Unit Operations chart in the Generation section shows levels of availability alongside levels of generation and this allows the user to see how imbalances are occurring and how they have progressed over time.