plugging it all together: an integrated energy future is emerging

To meet future energy needs and climate change goals the world will need three times more electricity by 2050. Generating this much clean energy requires a major transformation. This is underway, in fact, according to recent analysis from Ember, renewable energy generation is looking progressively on track – wind and solar increased their share of global electricity from 12.8 percent in 2022 to 14.3 percent in 2023. Solar in particular is growing rapidly (+16 percent, +104 TWh), with 50 countries setting new monthly records for solar generation in the first half of 2023. This is good news for people and the planet, however behind the scenes a smorgasbord of grid-related problems are holding back even faster progress.

New renewables are often delayed from feeding into the grid due to curtailment and permitting which can add years to getting clean electrons into use. Longer still are the timelines for laying new cables which can stretch beyond a decade in some parts of the world. The IEA estimates that the tripling of electricity will mean a doubling of grids, and this assumes the world gets better at reducing electricity theft, transmission losses and blackouts. We need smart solutions, and we need them fast.

Letter originally published in the Financial Times accessible below.