electrical networks threaten to be big bottleneck is due to energy transfer. with some 3,000 gigawatts (GW) Queuing to connect to the network around the world National Energy Agency (IEA) insists companies and governments increase delivery speed and modernize infrastructure prevent crash. OECD affiliated organization, The first study He concludes that the world needs to “double down or renew” on this issue. 80 million kilometers of network available between now and 2040 if you want to meet climate targets and provide Security of supply.
cries these spine between electrical system while connecting to each other Production and consumption. They are so big cables seen the on roads and in cities connect one point to another weather (although these may also be submarines called interconnects). They are divided among themselves low voltagereaching residential users and businesses (distribution networks) and high voltageThis is what connects production facilities to distribution networks and large industrial consumers (transportation networks). Almost in 2021, according to IEA 80 million kilometers equivalent to the size of electrical grids a hundred round trips to the moon.
The problem is that these kilometers remain almost unchanged over the years. And if in the last ten years the number renewable generation –wind turbines and solar panels have been installed to nearly double wind and solar capacity since 2010– as well as electricity consumption, expected to increase Previously presented electrification uses fossil fuels –e.g. heat pumps or electric cars– global network investment What connected the two remained static.
According to IEA every year 300 billion dollars a year when it is necessary to invest in electricity networks Around $600,000 million. “Absolute invest in networks today or a face recession tomorrow“He warns the executive director, Fatih Birol, in the statement accompanying the report released this Tuesday. “HE to go forward The situation we are seeing in many countries regarding clean energy is unprecedented and a cause for optimism, but it could be at risk if governments and companies do not come together to ensure it. world’s electrical networks “We are preparing for the new global energy economy,” he added.
weaknesses The state of the power grid is already being felt. According to the organization, 3,000 gigawatts (GW) will come to connect to these 1,500 GW in advanced stage of its development. That is, this amount of energy, the equivalent of all wind and solar energy installed in 2022, is connected not because they do not want to, but because they cannot. There aren’t enough ‘wires’ for them to do this. If these numbers increase, it becomes: less renewable developmentbut also a greater “risk of increased power outages”, security of supply. According to the IEA, power outages They cost around $100 billion a year, or 0.1% of global GDP.
Less network, more emissions
But not only that. Based on the hypothesis that there is Delays in network deployment, The agency creates a new scenario in its assumptions. Accumulated CO2 emissions between 2030 and 2050 would increase by 60 billion tons more than expected. Its size is similar to this Total CO2 emissions from the global energy sector during last four years. and translates increase in the long term global temperature It is “well above” the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees Celsius, and there is a 40% chance of exceeding 2 degrees Celsius.
The reason for this is none other than usage. fossil fuels for a longer period of time, this will also increase Dependency on producing countries. And therefore it is recommended “Urgent” action to “modernize and expand networks” with suggestions including “expanding and strengthening” national networksbut also connections between countries. It also calls on governments to “support large-scale transmission projects to ensure grids are ready for further growth in renewable energy” and urges network developers and operators to “embrace digitalization” to ensure the networks of the future “are more resilient and resilient”. ”