A hidden danger of renewable energy.
Opponents of renewable energy focus on its intermittent nature. Solar doesn’t work at night and turbines don’t produce if there’s no wind. Unfortunately, there is another problem that is often overlooked and that is renewables’ lack of inertia. Great article on the subject at energycentral.com
Overcoming Grid Inertia Challenges in the Era of Renewable Energy
Quoting from the article:
“Grid inertia refers to the resistance of the power system to changes in frequency. The rotating masses of large generators in conventional power plants primarily provide it. These rotating masses store kinetic energy, which helps stabilize the grid by balancing supply and demand fluctuations. High inertia means the system can better withstand sudden disturbances, such as a generator tripping or a sudden surge in demand. Frequent changes in a grid with high inertia are slow, giving grid operators time to respond and take corrective actions. Conversely, low inertia results in rapid frequency changes, increasing the risk of system instability and blackouts. Renewable energy sources, especially wind and solar, inherently lack the same level of inertia support that traditional power plants provide.”
This lack of inertia causes three problems:
- Frequency Stability
- Operational Complexity
- Reliability Concerns
These problems are not insurmountable. There are solutions, expensive, but solutions. Unfortunately, this is just one more thing that needs to be dealt with or bad things will happen. I am not confident that given the current management of the energy transition, that we will have all the pieces right when we need them. It is best to be paranoid and make sure that you have the backup power and power quality you need to keep operating. To learn how you can get power security and quality as a service with no CAPEX, please visit us at https://exergyenergy.com