Renewables Grid Initiative’s Post

Industrial heat is responsible for 20% of global #energy demand, contributing significantly to carbon emissions. So, can #electrification of industrial heat pave the way for a #greener future? 🤔 According to the McKinsey & Company study by Joris van Niel and Ken Somers, yes! Check out some of their findings 👇 ⚡️ Electrification of industrial heat is both technically feasible and increasingly cost-competitive, dispelling old misconceptions 🌿 Companies can combine #electricity from on-site #renewables and the #grid, leading to lower energy costs 💰 Under the right conditions, electrification could be paid back within a year Check out the details and how companies can apply an integrated approach to reduce industrial heat emissions 👉 https://lnkd.in/e8WrKe_z

As 🥵 #climate change impacts worsen, a 💪 #resilient and adaptive grid is essential for a secure ⚡️ #electricity supply. Connecting #renewable energy to our homes and factories is essential. However, climate change impacts like fluctuating temperatures, floods, droughts, and wildfires are intensifying. To address these challenges, our grids must adapt and become more resilient.   But how do we achieve a climate-proof grid? Watch the full video: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dtKKvSWP

Heating homes with #renewable wind power is possible! This week on #SunWindWires we’re exploring how a small village in northeast Germany has been a model for sustainable #SectorCoupling. 🌱 A Model for Green Heating 🌱 Since February 2020, the village of Nechlin has used wind turbines to feed electricity into a specially designed heat storage tank, which supplies hot water to the entire village. This heat storage means that nearby wind turbines don’t need to be turned off (curtailed) when demand cannot meet the supply. ⚡Maximising Wind Energy ⚡ This innovative green energy storage system (from ENERTRAG) can hold one million litres of hot water, providing heat for up to two weeks. The system can maintain an average heating capacity of 200 kW for a week. This prevents the wastage of renewable energy and offers a carbon-free alternative to traditional heating fuels. 🏛️ Regulatory Milestones 🏛️ The Nechlin project was made possible by the SINTEG regulation from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, which allowed for regulatory flexibility and on-site energy consumption. This ‘regulatory learning’ approach facilitated the testing of new energy market rules. 💶 Expanding Renewable Heating 💶 With the German government banning new oil heating systems from 2026, now is the opportune time to invest in similar projects. The potential to replace old heating systems with wind-powered solutions could significantly advance climate-friendly energy transition in Germany and Europe. 🏘️ Boosting Acceptance of Wind Energy 🏘️ Using surplus wind energy for heating addresses energy curtailment and boosts public acceptance of wind power. By directly benefiting local communities, projects like this can enhance the perception of wind energy, showcasing its tangible benefits in daily life. 📙 Sun, Wind & Wires 📙 Download ‘Sun, Wind & Wires: Atlas of an Energy System in Transition’ to learn about sector coupling and renewables. This beautifully informative book is full of more amazing infographics designed by Ellery Studio. Go to https://lnkd.in/dTh-U5NH LIFE Programme CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) ENTSO-E EU DSO Entity

To reach #climate neutrality latest by 2050, a considerable amount of #renewable energy infrastructure will need to be deployed 🌿 But, how will the #EnergyTransition impact supply chains and sourcing of critical raw materials? 🤔 To exchange knowledge on this topic, we organised the Expert Exchange Workshop "Closing the Circle: Supply chains and #circularity approaches for delivering a decarbonised energy system", under the #PACProject on 26 June! During the workshop, we brought together different experts in #EnergySystem modelling and planning to discuss approaches, analyses and solutions for a more circular and resource-efficient #energy system & #electricity #grid ⚡️ 💡Learn more about the discussions & check out the materials 👉 https://lnkd.in/dBVyuCrV We thank all the participants and speakers for such an interesting discussion, as well as the European Environmental Bureau for hosting us in Brussels!

#AI is at the forefront of climate action, modern electricity grids, and the race to decarbonise. 3️⃣ examples from industry experts show how👇 🌍 AI for #ClimateAction Friends of the Earth International (🇳🇬 Nigeria) used forest cover and land concession data from Global Forest Watch to monitor deforestation and corporate land acquisition. This data – collected using satellites, computer vision, and #DeepLearning – informed policy-making and resulted in nearly 14,000 hectares of land being given back to impacted communities 📃 How AI can be used to reach the #SDGs from McKinsey & Company: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6tZGJfJ ⚡️AI for the #Electricity #Grid #Decentralisation, driven by renewable energy sources and advanced analytics, is the future of grids. Bret Simon from Exodigo emphasises that AI and advanced analytics are key to overcoming the challenges of transforming traditional centralised grids into flexible, decentralised networks. AI aids in accurate forecasting, risk detection, and #infrastructure upgrades, ensuring that the transition is both efficient and equitable. Integrating real-time sensor data with AI capabilities empowers utilities to manage the increased variability and unpredictability of #renewables. 🗞️ Full article in Smart Energy International: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dp3GyVpE 🌿 AI for #NetZero In the energy sector, AI accelerates #decarbonisation and the transition towards a net-zero future. According to Per Christian Honningsvåg at Microsoft, AI can be pivotal in increasing demand-side #flexibility, optimising asset performance, and scheduling maintenance and trades. However, human talent remains crucial in driving these changes. AI assists in managing the transition, but human expertise is necessary for implementation and adaptation. Talent acquisition, upskilling, and enhancing productivity are crucial as people drive this transition. 🎞️ Watch the full interview from Smart Energy International: 👉 https://lnkd.in/d3ugUGgJ

🇪🇺 Europe is facing a transformer shortage – risking the €584 billion 🔌 #grid expansion, essential for supporting millions of new electric vehicles, heat pumps, and #renewable #energy projects. 💶 From power distribution in the industry to renewable energy developers, the need for transformers is critical. This shortage extends lead times, raises costs, and could significantly impact consumer bills and the EU’s #climate goals. 🌐 The European Commission is looking into this issue, as delays in transformer availability could endanger the EU’s energy independence and climate objectives. 🧰 To address this crisis, partnerships with governments and other incentives are necessary to boost production within Europe. Alternatively, grid operators might have to look to global manufacturing hubs. 🗞️ Nikolaus Johann Kurmayer dives deep into the issue in Euractiv here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e5ey5PuY

It's time for a reality check. The European Court of Auditors call the EU's hydrogen targets 'politically motivated' – and we agree!   We welcome their extensive report on the EU's overly ambitious #hydrogen targets, echoing our concerns from 2022 when we called for a robust assessment of hydrogen production and use, and due consideration of H2's:   🐢 Inherent inefficiencies and high costs compared to direct #electrification 🌐 Potential to increase geopolitical dependency 🚫 Resource intensity, environmental impacts, and potential for stranded assets    The EU must look past the H2 smoke and mirrors and recognise that we must⚡️ #ElectrifyNow to reach at least 35% direct electrification by 2030, and 50% by 2040. This more efficient and realistic approach to 🌱 #decarbonisation is based on proven and mature technologies like variable #renwables and electricity #grids. 👏 Let’s focus our scarce resources where they can make the most impact.   The new report from the EU Court of Auditors: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e2CzTCDR   Our June 2022 statement on the EU renewable hydrogen targets: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eGg-g-EP   Our Sept 2023 PAC project discussion paper on the EU hydrogen targets: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eqqhDr3A

Central & Eastern Europe (#CEE) is critical for the #EU energy transition. E3G and CEE Bankwatch Network suggest that barriers to #decarbonisation in the region must be overcome to reach EU climate targets and unlock the benefits of increased EU #grid investment in the region: 🇭🇺 Hungary and 🇸🇰 Slovakia are central for power flows between the 🇪🇺 EU and 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇧🇬 Bulgaria and 🇷🇴 Romania have a high potential for interconnection with neighbours in the Black Sea like 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan, 🇬🇪 Georgia, or 🇹🇷 Turkey 🇬🇷 Greece's growing role as a hub for #renewables underscores the need for additional north-south grid connections Read the full report: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e-pJdxfw