Decarbonization of Electricity Production
What problems have been experienced with the integration of intermittent renewables in the electric grid? How easy is it to find a quick solution? What can we learn from the experience of the Energiewende in Germany? What is the problem to be tackled? This Uncomfortable Knowledge Hub (UKH) series consists of one teaser video and one video lecture reflecting on the experience done in Germany and in Spain with alternative intermittent sources of electricity. One longer publication resource is also available at the end of this webpage.
Introduction
Electricity is not behaving as a “normal good” in the market: Electricity is special
Electricity is not behaving as a “normal good” in the market: Electricity is special. The problem with producing and selling electricity is the same as the problem of producing and selling ice creams. Unless you have an effective storage system (a fridge for the ice creams), the matching of demand and supply can prove problematic.
Videos
Intermittent alternative sources of electricity: Batteries not included
Because of the special nature of electricity as energy form, kWh of electricity that are produced must match both in space and time kWh of electricity that are consumed. This entails that it is not true that all kWh of electricity are “the same” independently of the time and place of production. Intermittent sources of electricity are “problematic” sources of energy and they need storage capacity in order to meet current expectations.