renewables
On the road to a clean energy future:
the integration of renewables into the grid Simon Mouat, Vice President of Energy for Schneider Electric
Our most common and longest-running forms of energy — coal, oil, and gas — have effectively powered industry and civilisation for over 100 years. But as we know, these resources aren’t finite and the unprecedented rate at which they are being released from the ground is breaking the delicate balance of our planet’s climate.
T
o lower our impact on
While our shift in attitudes and progress
long before. However, traditional barriers to
the environment and to
towards a greener future is promising, in
renewable adoption, such as cost, are begin-
secure an energy supply
reality the delivery of an all-renewable-driven
ning to disappear. Continuous innovation and
for generations to come,
world will not be easy. High costs, complex
economies of scale have driven cost down to
industry pioneers are
technology and operations, variable supply
the point where it is near parity with other
striving to put renewable
and the inversion of the utility model as we
ways of producing electricity. As a result,
energy-powered technologies on equal foot-
know it — all have a role to play. And as with
political incentives to accelerate renewable
ing with carbon-emitting fuel sources. With
game-changing innovations in other industries,
penetration will no longer be required as
pressure from private and public groups as
traditional interests tend to protect an out-
the economic business case simply begins
well as government regulators, the evolu-
dated model while new interests often rush
to make sense.
tion to a renewable-only world seems all
in without fully realising the consequences
but inevitable. The question is no longer
of their actions.
The variable nature of renewables
if we make this shift, but how and when.
If we are to truly commit to delivering a
Nature’s most abundant and precious energy
We are already beginning to address the
100% renewable model, we must acknowledge
sources — sun, wind, water — are virtually
question of how: technologies exist today
the barriers holding us back and actively
everywhere. But we are currently limited in
that capture the energy of our sun, wind
develop new ways to move forward.
how much or how often we can extract that
and moving water. And we are making
energy to supply our energy demand. Most
progress towards establishing a smarter
Bringing down the price tag
renewable energy sources are very diffuse
energy grid — one which enables the flex-
If more and more nations, governments and
and scattered, while energy demand is more
ible, reliable and sustainable management
people are demanding a definitive shift to re-
intense and load centres are more concen-
of energy and the advanced capability
newable power, why isn’t it happening faster?
trated — for example, in cities. Moreover,
to incorporate renewables. The question
It is a complicated question that requires
unpredictable factors, such as cloud coverage,
of when is also being considered on a
an equally complicated answer. But histori-
wind speed and water flows, have complicated
daily basis in boardrooms across Australia
cally, one main barrier has been the price
the production of renewable-based electricity
and the wider world, where key energy
tag. Renewable energy technologies simply
for utilities.
stakeholders make decisions and place
could not compete with fossil fuels due to
Effective ‘Demand Management’ offers a
investments.
government subsidies that had been in place
way to overcome these challenges. The goal
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Aug/Sep 2016 - Sustainability Matters 17