Dr. Kabir gives Texas A&M Energy Institute seminar on zero-carbon grids

Seminar talk: Towards Zero-Carbon Power Grids — Navigating Renewables’ Complexities and Constraints.

Dr. Kabir delivered a seminar at the Texas A&M Energy Institute titled “Towards Zero-Carbon Power Grids: Navigating Renewables’ Complexities and Constraints.”

Talk Summary

The global push to combat climate change has focused attention on decarbonizing power systems. However, the variability and intermittency of renewable energy sources create real challenges for power system operations — including energy curtailment and price volatility.

The seminar analyzed these challenges while characterizing the covariability between renewable energy supply and electricity demand, and the interplay between these resources and the operational constraints of the power grid.

Key Messages

• Integrating renewable energy can produce large and heterogeneous changes in energy prices.
• Expanding wind and solar without regard for grid specifications can lead to inefficient energy use and substantial curtailment.
• Spatiotemporal dynamics and operational constraints need to be central in decisions about new renewable investment.

Thanks to the Energy Institute for hosting!