9a. Energy system impacts
News flash: sometimes the wind doesn’t blow! Sometimes it blows hard and wind energy must be curtailed. A lot more transmission is needed to move power to where it’s needed, requiring investment in stronger and smarter transmission systems.
News flash: sometimes the wind doesn’t blow! Sometimes it blows hard and wind energy must be curtailed. A lot more transmission is needed to move power to where it’s needed, requiring investment in stronger and smarter transmission systems.
Comments
System costs rise when grids lack flexibility & storage. Batteries are not ideal as they are short duration (better paired with solar). Longer duration storage such as hydrogen, or sector coupling could better bridge the gaps.
See https://academic.oup.com/book/55104
Wind's near-zero costs depress electricity prices, threatening investment and market stability. While sometimes overstated, this impacts system reliability. Regulatory tweaks like zonal pricing or flexibility incentives could help stabilise markets and sustain renewables.
11. financing and controlling intellectual property
12. supply chain disruptions
13. cyber security and hybrid threats
14. planning and permitting
(this is the home stretch, I promise...)
Europe and the US were home to the leading wind farm companies, but growing dominance from China is sparking political and economic concern. Open data initiatives and regulatory frameworks can reduce risks and balance global efforts.
Geopolitical tensions and highly concentrated mineral resources raise fears of supply chain disruptions. Stability is needed to expanding wind fleets without installation cost spiking, so more domestic production and resilient supply chains are key.
Wind farms in Germany & Ukraine have been attacked by hackers targeting control systems, while rampant online disinformation erodes public trust. Solutions are there, but complex to implement due to the globalised & connected infrastructure.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/big-batteries-and-evs-to-the-rescue-again-as-faults-with-new-nuclear-plant-cause-chaos-on-nordic-grids/?