Intermittency problem of renewable energy generation

Solar PV has been increasingly scaled up to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation and thereby mitigate climate change. However, due to the intermittency (i.e. variability) of renewable energy sources, large-scale penetration of renewable energy sources into the electricity grid can potentially cause grid problems if grid stability has not been sufficiently strengthened beforehand. To address this issue, increased costs will be required, e.g. for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of conventional thermal power plants, as their cycling requirements increase due to the greater uncertainty of electricity supply.

Nº 97
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made

None

Intermittency problem of renewable energy generation

Solar PV has been increasingly scaled up to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation and thereby mitigate climate change. However, due to the intermittency (i.e. variability) of renewable energy sources, large-scale penetration of renewable energy sources into the electricity grid can potentially cause grid problems if grid stability has not been sufficiently strengthened beforehand. To address this issue, increased costs will be required, e.g. for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of conventional thermal power plants, as their cycling requirements increase due to the greater uncertainty of electricity supply.

The unpredictable nature of renewable energy sources poses a significant challenge to ensuring a stable and flexible energy supply, as has been observed in various regions, including Germany. The closure of nuclear and coal-fired power stations in the country is expected to reduce the available flexible energy capacity. This situation could potentially lead to grid imbalances, with either an excess or shortage of energy supply. A study shows that existing policies across Europe are insufficient to deliver the required level of flexible energy from low-carbon sources.

Crawford, H. (2020). Two case studies of renewable intermittency. Timera Energy. Available at https://timera-energy.com/two-case-studies-of-renewable-intermittency/

Perez-Arriaga, Ignacio J., and Carlos Batlle. “Impacts of intermittent renewables on electricity generation system operation.” Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy 1.2 (2012): 3-18.