Wind and solar are therefore sometimes referred to as variable renewable energy (VRE). Of the supply of wind and solar power to demand cannot occur in the way that energy from baseload-generating plants fueled by coal or natural gas can. In other words, the minute-by-minute matching A zero-carbon energy grid requires flexibilityĪ grid that relies on nondispatchable energy sources, like wind and solar, typically requires alternative sources of power generation. Our analysis suggests that it could potentially play a large role in meeting 2050 decarbonization targets and may be worth considering in policies, plans, and investments. But in the last five years, fusion energy has reached a turning point in its development. Historically, fusion machines have not been technically viable, because the energy input required to power the reaction has been larger than the energy produced by the machine. Bailey et al., “Waste expectations of fusion steels under current waste repository criteria,” Nuclear Fusion, January 27, 2021. 1 Fusion machines do create waste from their irradiated walls, which would need to be stored after the decommissioning of a plant. The process of producing fusion energy creates no carbon emissions and no long-lived nuclear waste from spent fuel. Fusion is dispatchable, which means that, unlike wind and solar, it does not rely on environmental or other external variables to generate power. Fusion-different from nuclear fission, which releases energy by splitting an atom in two-creates energy by combining two atoms, typically hydrogen isotopes. Nuclear-fusion energy could help provide flexibility for zero-carbon electricity grids. Grid-scale batteries and other forms of energy storage are increasingly promising, but they are still cost prohibitive at the required durations and have not yet reached the level of technological readiness for large-scale deployment. But they are generally more expensive than wind and solar, can function only in a limited number of sites, and are less technologically mature. Other forms of dispatchable zero-carbon energy, such as geothermal or tidal power, are encouraging. In the last five years, fusion energy has reached a turning point in its development. One example of such limitations: energy shortages in Europe that began in 2019-before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine-that were partly caused by historically low wind speeds lasting for months. But wind and solar have their limitations: they are nondispatchable-that is, they generate electricity when the wind blows or the sun shines, not necessarily when the grid needs it. The continued development of wind and solar technologies and construction techniques is expected to continue, which means that the bulk of new near-term clean-electricity generation will probably come from these two sources. Renewable energy from wind and solar is currently the most cost-efficient form of new zero-carbon electrical generation, and by 2030 it is expected be the lowest-cost of any kind of generation in most markets. For countries to hit their decarbonization goals, it is thus essential that not just existing but also all added generation be zero carbon. McKinsey’s Global Energy Perspective 2022 projects that power consumption could triple by 2050. For example, as electric vehicles replace internal-combustion vehicles, more electricity generation will be required. In addition, as other industries transition away from fossil fuels, the demand for zero- or low-carbon electricity will increase. Volatility in the energy markets and geopolitical challenges may have complicated the transition to net zero in the short run, but in the longer run, the economics of renewable-power sources will drive likely investment into them. The goal for many power sector players and their regulators is a zero-carbon energy grid. To meet the Paris Agreement’s target of full decarbonization by 2050, many governments and utilities are shifting away from fossil fuels as a primary energy source and turning to renewable-energy technologies. Power generation currently accounts for approximately 30 percent of global CO 2 emissions. What if a technological breakthrough could help the power sector decarbonize-and help prevent the worst effects of climate change?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |