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According to Adrian Gonzalez, Director of Programmes, Innovation and End-Use Sectors at the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), the path to tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 and beyond requires expanding and modernizing grids and increasing storage capacities. Governments and other stakeholders in the electricity sector must accelerate regulatory issues, set clear standards and prioritize investments. The goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 makes planning and investment in grid development even more urgent, according to an article published by Adrian Gonzelez, Director of Programmes, Innovation and End-Use Sectors at the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena). He points out that, to make the most of the solar energy available at certain times of the day, increasing battery energy storage (BESS) capacity is essential. Connecting renewables to the electricity system requires grid infrastructure at both the transmission and distribution levels, including overhead lines, underground and submarine cables, and electrical substations. This fact has been largely overlooked in several regions, according to Gonzelez. Urgent measures must be taken to avoid delays in grid infrastructure, which would delay the energy transition. Unlike concentrated fossil-fuel-based generation or large hydroelectric plants, wind and solar generators are distributed over large areas and multiple sites, making planning and investment in grid development even more urgent, according to Gonzelez. Providing reliable and affordable electricity to meet the growing energy demand required by the electrification of transportation, heating and cooling, and industry, along with the growing electricity needs of information technology, will rely on grid infrastructure. However, as the executive points out, network infrastructure deployment does not happen overnight. By their nature, power lines must take into account social and environmental impact over large areas, along their entire routes, which involves lengthy planning and licensing processes and the involvement of various stakeholders, which is time-consuming and can delay deployment. In addition to simplifying these processes, early investments can offset these time requirements and are essential to unlocking network expansion and avoiding future bottlenecks. Solar photovoltaic energy and storage Gonzalez highlights the significant decline in the costs of solar photovoltaic panels and batteries in recent years, with equipment prices falling by around 90% between 2010 and 2023. This trend is likely to continue due to technological advances, manufacturing techniques and increasing economies of scale. To make the most of the solar energy available at certain times of the day, the electrical output from the panels must exceed the needs during that period, so that the surplus can be stored and used later, until the sun shines again. This is possible with battery energy storage systems (BESS). According to the IRENA director, the advances and cost reductions in BESS have just made this technology competitive and particularly suitable for short-term storage, allowing the use of clean solar PV energy also during the hours after sunset, when demand patterns tend to peak. For him, while the convergence of solar PV and energy storage technologies is essential, harnessing their full potential requires overcoming systemic challenges, which requires clear and supportive policies and addressing corporate risk aversion. Governments must implement energy strategies that explicitly promote the integration of solar and storage, aligning them with broader climate and energy transition goals. Based on the specific characteristics of each electricity system, national and regional policymakers should assess quantifiable targets for energy storage among the portfolio of support measures, supporting these ambitions with long-term incentives and robust regulatory frameworks. At the same time, industry and financial players can become leaders by complementing policy efforts with boldness in seeking and capitalising on the business opportunities of the energy transition. Depending on national contexts, regulatory reforms may be necessary to ensure that storage systems’ capabilities, such as balancing grid variability, allowing for peak-time changes, and increasing system resilience, are permitted and recognised. Avoiding inefficiencies, such as double pricing for grid access, is essential to creating fair and competitive markets that attract investors. For the IRENA executive, the most critical step in defining effective and efficient targets for storage and grid deployment that meet a countrys specific needs is an integrated assessment of the national energy generation mix and flexibility sources. As proposed in the International Renewable Energy Agencys World Energy Transitions Outlook 2024 , 1 to 2 MW of energy storage for every 10 MW of added renewable energy capacity can serve as a general benchmark, while the necessary characteristics, such as duration and specific size, will depend on the availability of multiple and diverse sources of flexibility. |
