In the last 30 days, Europe's electricity sector CO2 emissions have collapsed by 39%.
This is giving valuable lessons on how to run a fossil-free electricity grid.
What are these lessons?
THREAD: 1/11
This is giving valuable lessons on how to run a fossil-free electricity grid.
What are these lessons?
THREAD: 1/11
2/11 The lights have stayed on! The electricity system is robust: no excuse to slow wind+solar investment.
That's despite a 42% fall in Europe's coal gen & 30% fall in gas gen (chart).
Read EU's security briefing: ec.europa.eu/info/news/focu…
@ENTSO_E's summer outlook out end-May
That's despite a 42% fall in Europe's coal gen & 30% fall in gas gen (chart).
Read EU's security briefing: ec.europa.eu/info/news/focu…
@ENTSO_E's summer outlook out end-May
3/11 But record negative prices show there are supply/demand inflexibilities.
Common in Germany+Denmark+UK for a while, but now increasingly common in Belgium, Czechia, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands...
Common in Germany+Denmark+UK for a while, but now increasingly common in Belgium, Czechia, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands...
4/11 Some fossil plants, esp Lignite, is inflexible.
On Sunday 5-Apr lunchtime, 10 countries had zero/negative prices, so we can see what fossil can't turn off at zero cost.
For Bulgaria, Czechia and Germany, it's mostly lignite. Early closure would make grid more flexibile..
On Sunday 5-Apr lunchtime, 10 countries had zero/negative prices, so we can see what fossil can't turn off at zero cost.
For Bulgaria, Czechia and Germany, it's mostly lignite. Early closure would make grid more flexibile..
5/11 On Easter Sunday/Monday, we can see how nuclear was also inflexible at zero/negative prices.
Almost all countries showed near-zero output reductions.
Only the German fleet, and French fleet (not pictured), reduced load. And that was only by around 1/3rd.
Almost all countries showed near-zero output reductions.
Only the German fleet, and French fleet (not pictured), reduced load. And that was only by around 1/3rd.
6/11 EDF's French nuclear inflexibility runs deeper.
Coronavirus means they must postpone maintenance. This means they have announced to reduce output by 170TWh(!) to 2022 to save fuel.
This is a gifthorse to coal+gas🙄
edf.fr/en/the-edf-gro…
Coronavirus means they must postpone maintenance. This means they have announced to reduce output by 170TWh(!) to 2022 to save fuel.
This is a gifthorse to coal+gas🙄
edf.fr/en/the-edf-gro…
7/11 Even renewables needs to learn to be flexible.
In Germany on Easter Sun/Mon negative prices
- Onshore wind: reduces by only half
- Offshore wind: reduces even less
- Solar: no reduction
- Biomass: no reduction
All future renewables auctions should mandate flexibility.
In Germany on Easter Sun/Mon negative prices
- Onshore wind: reduces by only half
- Offshore wind: reduces even less
- Solar: no reduction
- Biomass: no reduction
All future renewables auctions should mandate flexibility.
8/11 Demand isn't flexible to prices.
But innovation is happening!
For example, @octopus_energy dynamic tariff means people got paid to use electricity when wholesale prices went negative:
But innovation is happening!
For example, @octopus_energy dynamic tariff means people got paid to use electricity when wholesale prices went negative:
9/11 Grid companies need to be proactive.
In April, they invented new "super-sel" contract, to reward plants this summer to operate at ultra-low output:
Hats off to @ng_eso for committing to be able to run the UK's national grid fossil-free by 2025.
nationalgrideso.com/industry-infor…
In April, they invented new "super-sel" contract, to reward plants this summer to operate at ultra-low output:
Hats off to @ng_eso for committing to be able to run the UK's national grid fossil-free by 2025.
nationalgrideso.com/industry-infor…
10/11 There's lots of great innovation in grid stability.
For example, @Draxnews Drax's hydro plants are providing inertia to keep the grid stable, which used to only be done by coal and gas plants:
drax.com/technology/why…
For example, @Draxnews Drax's hydro plants are providing inertia to keep the grid stable, which used to only be done by coal and gas plants:
drax.com/technology/why…
11/11 Running a fossil-free grid won't be easy.
But with vastly lower coal+gas generation across the world right now due to coronavirus, we can all learn lots of lessons.
Full analysis here by @CoalFreeDave, with muchos input+thanks to @DrSimEvans:
carbonbrief.org/analysis-coron…
But with vastly lower coal+gas generation across the world right now due to coronavirus, we can all learn lots of lessons.
Full analysis here by @CoalFreeDave, with muchos input+thanks to @DrSimEvans:
carbonbrief.org/analysis-coron…
