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Rising to the Challenges of Integrating Solar and Wind at Scale
Article

Rising to the Challenges of Integrating Solar and Wind at Scale



Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Well Structured
  • Overview
  • Visionary

Recommendation

Most people are enthusiastically in favor of ditching fossil fuels and embracing renewable energy, so what’s the holdup? Why is humankind still spewing carbon into the atmosphere? The simple answer is that the freewheeling fluctuations of renewable energy present a challenge for a power grid built with the predictability of conventional energy generation in mind. This report from the Boston Consulting Group’s Philip Hirschhorn and Tom Brijs provides a detailed analysis. 

Take-Aways

  • To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the world will need to make rapid progress on renewable energy generation.
  • Variable renewable energy (VRE) generation fluctuates according to weather conditions, presenting significant challenges for the existing power grid.
  • VRE systems need improved resource adequacy, network adequacy, frequency stability and voltage stability to scale properly.

About the Authors

Philip Hirschhorn is a managing director and senior partner in the Boston Consulting Group’s Sydney office. Tom Brijs is a BCG principal based in Brussels.