Grid stability and renewables integration |
Dispatchable power: critical for the energy transition
Concerns over grid stability, energy affordability, and security of supply are growing. ETN Global’s latest white paper, The critical role of dispatchable power generation for a sustainable and secure energy transition, looks at how Europe can strike a balance between avoidance of energy shortages and meeting of climate targets, identifying four key challenges that must be addressed
Flexibility challenge
The European electricity landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting from a fossil fuel dominated system to one primarily based on variable renewable energy (VRE) sources. As more of these non-dispatchable renewable energy sources are integrated, the grid must become more flexible to balance periods when the wind is not blowing and/or the sun is not shining. This challenge is further amplified by the rising demand for electricity, due to increasing electrification in households, industry and mobility. By 2030, Europe will need much more flexibility to manage the daily, weekly, and monthly variability in electricity supply and demand, as highlighted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (Figure 1).
According to ENTSO-G (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas) the flexibility in energy to support the aforementioned changes needs to increase by 40-65% by 2050.
As Europe relies increasingly on renewable energy, the grid will need to be much more robust and capable of compensating for peaks and troughs in demand to ensure that a reliable electricity supply is always available. Without enough flexibility, the grid could experience issues such as blackouts, especially as overall demand rises, and the renewable energy share becomes more prominent.
This necessitates significant investments in dispatchable energy solutions, energy storage systems, and smart grids, to maintain grid stability and ensure reliable, affordable, and low- emission electricity supply.
Grid stability challenge As the integration of VRE sources increases, managing VRE deficits becomes crucial to
Figure 1. The increasing demand for daily, weekly and monthly flexibility according to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. (Source: D. Koolen, M. De Felice, and S. Busch, Flexibility requirements and the role of storage in future European power systems, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2023, JRC130519)
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“The technology for dispatchable, carbon-neutral power generation, via hydrogen, other sustainable fuels, or CCUS, is already available or well under development. The real challenge is the lack of long-term policy frameworks and economic incentives to support investment in newly built capacity or to extend the life of existing assets. This is critical, as reduced operating hours make it increasingly difficult to sustain commercial viability. Bridging this gap is essential to securing Europe’s energy future.”
Christer Björkqvist, Managing Director, ETN Global
stabilise the electricity grid. A mismatch between instantaneous demand and supply can jeopardise the balance of the electricity system if not backed up by demand response together with dispatchable generation and storage systems. To meet flexibility requirements, we need sustainable dispatchable power generation technology that can provide reliable flexibility services, including load following, peaking, backup capacity (spinning reserve), grid services (rotating inertia, frequency control), and medium-to-long- term storage solutions as well as black start capabilities.
As shown in Table 1, thermal turbines are just such a technology, able to provide clean and flexible generation and cover electricity grid requirements. Thermal turbines can operate as clean generation options either with the deployment of post combustion CCS or by using clean fuels – eg, sustainable hydrogen or e-fuels. Such fuels can be stored for long periods before reconversion to power and heat via dispatchable thermal turbines, making them an essential part of decarbonisation strategies. Indeed, power- to-hydrogen-to-power remains the only viable option for long term energy storage at large scale with the current state of technology. Changing future needs could see dispatchable thermal turbines integrated with ultra-fast response technologies such as batteries and flywheels. These integrated systems can improve
Four calls to action by ETN Global
1. Flexibility
We urge the EU policymakers to implement policies that will enable a two-fold increase in the availability of flexible resources, such as dispatchable energy solutions, smart grids and energy storage, by 2030, while preparing for a five-fold increase by 2050.
2. Grid stability
We urge the EU policymakers to recognise the critical role of dispatchable generation technologies, such as thermal turbines, in ensuring grid reliability and stability. These technologies, particularly when fuelled by hydrogen and other carbon-neutral options, must be supported through targeted incentives and regulatory frameworks to secure their integration into the energy mix.
3. Carbon-neutral fuel We urge the EU policymakers to prioritise the rapid deployment of hydrogen and carbon-neutral fuels as essential components of Europe’s energy transition. This requires targeted investments in hydrogen and other low-carbon/carbon-neutral fuel production, infrastructure development, and the testing and scaling of hydrogen-fuelled turbines and synthetic fuel technologies. Clear policies and financial incentives are needed to make these fuels more affordable and widely available, ensuring their integration into the energy grid.
4. Ageing fleet
We urge the EU policymakers to implement appropriate financial incentives and supportive regulatory frameworks that encourage the extension of the operational lifespan of existing dispatchable thermal turbine fleets to ensure energy security for the future.
Scan this QR code for a link to the ETN Global white paper, The critical role of dispatchable power generation for a sustainable and secure energy transition
18 | April 2025|
www.modernpowersystems.com
Flex requirements (TWh/y)
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