Europe has made significant strides in expanding its renewable energy capacity, with wind and solar power surpassing fossil fuels for the first time in the first half of 2024. However, recent events have exposed vulnerabilities in this progress, as low wind speeds in northwest Europe caused a sharp rise in electricity prices, highlighting the limitations of relying on weather-dependent energy sources.
In the week of this surge, hourly power prices during peak demand times – in the morning and evening – reached their highest levels since the peak of the 2022 energy crisis. The cause of the price hike was simple but unexpected: a significant drop in wind power generation due to low wind speeds.
As Europe officially entered the winter heating season, major economies like Germany and the UK had to turn to natural gas to meet electricity demand. This increased reliance on gas, alongside the reduced wind power, pushed electricity prices higher and led to emergency grid stabilization measures.
In Germany, the phenomenon known as “Dunkelflaute” – or “dark wind lull” – caused wind farms to generate only 7% of their full capacity earlier this week. This drastic reduction in wind power sent electricity prices for peak demand hours on Wednesday soaring to levels not seen since the height of the 2022 energy crisis. In the UK, wind power covered just 4% of electricity demand during peak times on Tuesday, with natural gas supplying more than 60% of the country’s power. This marked the highest share of gas-fired generation in the UK since November 2023. Additionally, higher gas demand for heating in homes further increased pressure on the fuel supply.
The situation highlights an ongoing issue for Europe: while renewable energy capacity has grown rapidly, the continent still lacks sufficient backup power sources that are reliable, weather-independent, and flexible. The key to fully leveraging renewable power lies in energy storage solutions, which would allow clean energy to be used when needed, even when weather conditions are unfavorable.
Renewable Energy’s Progress and Challenges
The rise of renewable energy in Europe is undeniable. In the years following the 2022 energy crisis, when Russia’s gas supplies were disrupted, European countries rushed to build more wind and solar capacity. Between 2019 and 2023, surging solar and wind generation helped reduce the European Union’s reliance on fossil fuels by 20%, according to Ember, a clean energy think tank. In the first half of 2024, wind and solar power officially surpassed fossil fuel electricity generation in the EU for the first time, accounting for 30% of the EU’s energy mix compared to 27% from fossil fuels.
Power demand in the EU increased by 0.7% during the first half of 2024, as the region recovered from two years of declines during the energy crisis. The growth in demand was tempered by a milder winter, which kept overall energy use from rising sharply. In 13 EU member states, wind and solar generation surpassed fossil fuel power, with Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and the Netherlands reaching this milestone for the first time in 2024.
While these figures are impressive, they come with a major caveat: renewable energy generation is highly dependent on weather conditions. When wind and solar output is low, Europe must rely on fossil fuels to fill the gap, especially during periods of high demand. To fully benefit from renewables, Europe needs a much stronger focus on energy storage and grid flexibility.
The Need for Better Energy Storage and Grid Flexibility
The unpredictability of wind and solar power presents a key challenge for Europe’s energy transition. To fully integrate renewable energy into the grid, Europe must address the intermittency of wind and solar generation by expanding energy storage capacity and modernizing its grids. As wind and solar power generation surges, the lack of efficient storage solutions makes it difficult to manage surpluses and meet demand during peak hours.
According to Ember, grid investments are not keeping pace with renewable energy growth, and the insufficient transmission capacity could delay the energy transition. “Making sure solar and wind can actually connect to the system is as critical as the panels and turbines themselves,” said Elisabeth Cremona, Energy & Climate Data Analyst at Ember.
While renewables have performed strongly during daylight hours, fossil fuel reliance remains high during early mornings and evenings when wind and solar output is low. This has led to wide fluctuations in intra-day power prices, which Ember argues further underscores the business case for energy storage solutions. “Large and widening intra-day price spreads strengthen the business case for battery storage,” said Ember’s analysts.
The surge in power prices this week due to low wind speeds emphasizes the urgency for Europe to accelerate its efforts to expand energy storage and other flexibility solutions. Without these measures, Europe may struggle to fully harness the potential of its renewable energy sources and achieve its goal of reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Conclusion
While Europe’s renewable energy sector continues to grow, the region faces significant challenges in ensuring that clean energy can meet demand at all times. The latest power price spike serves as a reminder of the need for greater energy storage and grid flexibility to stabilize the system and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. As Europe pushes ahead with its energy transition, addressing these issues will be critical to ensuring that renewables can truly replace fossil fuels and secure a sustainable energy future.
Related Topics:
- Why Renewable Energy is Better than Nuclear Energy
- Why Type of Renewable Energy Are Trees And Biomass?
- What Makes Ocean Power a Renewable Energy Source?