RE-organising Power Systems for the Transition
Recently, the latest report Re-organizing power systems for the Transition released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) pointed out that the power sector, as the core of the global energy transformation, will rely on the improvement of the electrification degree of end users and use variable renewable energy (VRE) such as wind energy and solar photovoltaic as the main source of power. However, the current power system mainly reflects the era when power generation still depends on large-scale centralized and dispatchable power plants. Therefore, the existing power system structure must be constantly developed to meet the requirements of the renewable energy era.
The power sector lies at the heart of the global energy transition, which will rely on increased electrification of end uses and the adoption of variable renewable energy (VRE) such as wind and solar PV as the main sources of electricity; however, today’s power systems embody an era in which generation depended on large centralised and dispatchable power plants. It is therefore essential that power system structures evolve to meet the requirements of the renewable era.
This report aims to inform discussions on the role of power system organisational structures in facilitating and accelerating the energy transition. It explores enablers and barriers to the transition, including misalignments both within and beyond power systems, as well as the role of competition and its balance with regulatory and collaborative components. his report
The report proposes a new power system organisational structure, fit for the renewable era, that can support low-cost renewable generation and long-term investments in system adequacy, complemented by diverse and flexible generation options to ensure a reliable power system to support the energy transition.
Source: IRENA
