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

Rising to the Challenges of Integrating Solar and Wind at Scale

Philip Hirschhorn and Tom Brijs
Boston Consulting Group, 2021
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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. 

Summary

To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the world will need to make rapid progress on renewable energy generation.

To achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says the share of renewable energy will have to triple from 29% to around 90%. This goal would be difficult enough if energy needs remained steady, but total energy needs will almost certainly increase during this time.

In 2020, renewable sources generated 29% of the world’s energy needs with the rest of the energy generated using conventional sources, like gas, coal, oil or nuclear power. The power grid was built for conventional energy generation, which is centralized, stable and predictable.

Variable renewable energy (VRE) generation fluctuates according to weather conditions, presenting significant...

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.

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