Renewables alone cannot anchor long-term energy security in the absence of storage adequacy and flexible thermal balancing. Discuss the grid-integration challenges and the broader economic implications.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Infrastructure- Energy
Topic: Infrastructure- Energy
Q5. Renewables alone cannot anchor long-term energy security in the absence of storage adequacy and flexible thermal balancing. Discuss the grid-integration challenges and the broader economic implications. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: InsightsIAS
Why the question High RE integration has exposed grid strain, storage shortfall and the continued necessity of flexible coal support for 24×7 energy security. Key demand of the question The question requires establishing why renewables cannot independently assure long-term energy security and then analysing grid-integration constraints and the wider economic effects of storage-thermal dependence. Structure of the answer Introduction Briefly state India’s rapid RE expansion and underline why firmness and grid reliability needs storage and flexible thermal balancing. Body Show intermittency, ramping stress and absence of long-duration storage. Grid-integration challenges: Mention transmission congestion, curtailment risks, and shallow ancillary markets. Broader economic implications: Refer to system cost premium, tariff volatility, delayed coal phase-down and financing risk. Conclusion Emphasise that energy transition must shift from capacity addition to firm, secure and storage-backed reliability.
Why the question High RE integration has exposed grid strain, storage shortfall and the continued necessity of flexible coal support for 24×7 energy security.
Key demand of the question The question requires establishing why renewables cannot independently assure long-term energy security and then analysing grid-integration constraints and the wider economic effects of storage-thermal dependence.
Structure of the answer
Introduction Briefly state India’s rapid RE expansion and underline why firmness and grid reliability needs storage and flexible thermal balancing.
• Show intermittency, ramping stress and absence of long-duration storage.
• Grid-integration challenges: Mention transmission congestion, curtailment risks, and shallow ancillary markets.
• Broader economic implications: Refer to system cost premium, tariff volatility, delayed coal phase-down and financing risk.
Conclusion Emphasise that energy transition must shift from capacity addition to firm, secure and storage-backed reliability.