The hidden cost of unchecked renewable growth

To address the imbalance in their networks, markets are exploring alternatives through partnerships with neighboring states. This underscores the difficulties associated with managing fluctuating electricity production from renewable sources. These challenges failed to prevent a severe energy incident in Spain just two days ago. The collapse of the Iberian grid has revealed the presence of energy-isolated regions in Europe, such as Cyprus which remains disconnected from the EU’s continental electricity grid along with Greece. This highlights the urgent need for investment in expanding and maintaining existing networks, as well as developing new interconnections to strengthen energy security and minimize the risk of blackouts.

Currently, the EU’s energy interconnections alone cannot ensure a stable supply without the support of powerful thermal generators capable of preventing incidents like the one in Spain. While integrating renewable energy sources into European grids can enhance sustainability, it also increases their vulnerability, raising the likelihood of instability. Before fully implementing the Net-Zero policy, substantial investments in network maintenance and expansion are essential to safeguard reliability and prevent future disruptions. The root cause of the Spanish blackout was related to the absence of "inertia", a physical stabilizing factor provided by conventional power plants such as gas, coal, nuclear, and hydroelectric stations, which counteract abrupt frequency shifts. In contrast, solar panels and most modern wind turbines do not provide the stabilizing inertia of traditional energy systems. This deficiency in inertia left probably the Spanish grid struggling to manage sudden fluctuations, making it difficult to avert or contain the blackout.

As energy networks become increasingly interconnected, this integration is not merely a technical concern, it fosters collaboration and stability but also introduces vulnerabilities within critical infrastructure.

" Defense Point May 2, 2025"   Yannis Bassias  Translation from Greek

https://www.defence-point.gr/news/anexelegkti-ayxisi-ape