Home
    Energy
    Towards 100% renewable energy
    Every second counts
     
    Every second counts

    Decisions for a sustainable future need to happen now

    Fast, flexible balancing power is essential for the energy transition

    Each moment that ticks by is a reminder of the potential of a single second. Within each second and decision lies an opportunity to accelerate the decarbonisation of energy.

    If we want to achieve our net zero targets, decisions need to be sped up and policies need to change in many parts to accelerate the transition to renewable power systems.

     

    SOUTH AFRICAAUSTRALIAEUROPEUSAOur energy systems must changeThe inflexibility of energy systems combined with the rise of renewables in the generation mix and changing climatic conditions have led to growing energy-related challenges.We can see this happening around the world.In South Africa, insufficient generating capacity and heavy reliance on outdated coal generation cause loadshedding and frequent blackouts.In Australia, the spot market failed due to insufficient power supply, extreme price spikes, unscheduled outages, and extreme weather conditions.In Europe, energy prices and household bills skyrocketed after gas supplies from Russia were cut off in 2022.In the USA, extreme weather conditions such as heat waves, wildfires, and extreme cold have made large-scale outages commonplace. SOUTH AFRICAAUSTRALIAEUROPEUSAOur energy systems must changeThe inflexibility of energy systems combined with the rise of renewables in the generation mix and changing climatic conditions have led to growing energy-related challenges.We can see this happening around the world.In South Africa, insufficient generating capacity and heavy reliance on outdated coal generation cause loadshedding and frequent blackouts.In Australia, the spot market failed due to insufficient power supply, extreme price spikes, unscheduled outages, and extreme weather conditions.In Europe, energy prices and household bills skyrocketed after gas supplies from Russia were cut off in 2022.In the USA, extreme weather conditions such as heat waves, wildfires, and extreme cold have made large-scale outages commonplace.
    Countries with net zero targetsAt the same time, countries worldwide have set ambitious net zero targets.To meet these targets, we need to add significant amounts of renewable energy to our power systems. Countries with net zero targetsAt the same time, countries worldwide have set ambitious net zero targets.To meet these targets, we need to add significant amounts of renewable energy to our power systems.
    However, renewables are intermittent in nature. The wind is not always blowing, and the sun is not always shining. These fluctuations can cause instability in the grid, which requires other energy sources to respond to gaps in supply quickly and often. The grid is like a scale, where electricity demand and output need to be in perfect balance. When our existing power systems cannot get this balance right, instability increases. This causes higher electricity prices, recurring blackouts, and vulnerability to extreme weather conditions.Traditional inflexible baseload power plants struggle with these fluctuations, which can cause instability in the grid. However, renewables are intermittent in nature. The wind is not always blowing, and the sun is not always shining. These fluctuations can cause instability in the grid, which requires other energy sources to respond to gaps in supply quickly and often. The grid is like a scale, where electricity demand and output need to be in perfect balance. When our existing power systems cannot get this balance right, instability increases. This causes higher electricity prices, recurring blackouts, and vulnerability to extreme weather conditions.Traditional inflexible baseload power plants struggle with these fluctuations, which can cause instability in the grid.
    How do traditional baseload power plants work? How do traditional baseload power plants work? As the grid always needs to be in perfect balance, renewable energy will need to be curtailed, or the grid may face blackouts or interruptions in power supply.Baseload power plants take hours to start up and shut down, while renewable energy output varies on a minute-by-minute basis.As renewable energy suddenly becomes available, these inflexible baseload power plants are not able to ramp down fast enough, causing an oversupply of energy. Now, as we transition towards cleaner energy and net zero, substantial amounts of renewables are being added to the mix. What happens to the power system then?Traditional baseload power plants —such as coal and combined cycle gas turbines—have provided constant and steady power, with little need to be frequently ramped up and down.