Renewable energies have often been criticized for their variability, an aspect that makes them unpredictable and dependent on the whims of the weather. However, researchers have recently discovered an ingenious way to turn this weakness into a strategic advantage. By accurately studying weather conditions and energy needs, they have developed a model allowing for an optimized implementation of solar and wind infrastructures. This not only maximizes the production of renewable energy but also reduces storage-related costs. Thus, the natural complementarity between sun and wind, which blows when the sun sets, becomes the pivot of a more efficient and reliable energy system.
A new analysis reveals that careful planning of the location of solar and wind installations can maximize the availability of renewable energies while reducing costs. This approach exploits a feature often regarded as a weakness: the variability of renewable energy sources. Skeptics point out that the wind does not always blow and that the sun does not shine constantly. However, when the sun does not shine in one place, the wind can blow nearby, thus opening the possibility of complementarity between different energy sources to balance supply and demand.
Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed an energy model using high-resolution weather data to identify the most profitable locations to build these installations in regions of the United States such as California, Texas, and New England. Their study shows that optimizing the location of renewable installations according to changing energy needs significantly reduces the overall system costs. This innovation represents a significant step towards better efficiency and reliability of renewable energy systems.
Revolutionary Transformations in Renewable Energy
Researchers have discovered an ingenious strategy to address the variability of renewable energies, often perceived as a weakness. Indeed, the inability of sources like solar and wind to provide constant energy has long been seen as a major obstacle. However, by exploiting this characteristic, we can complementarily coordinate different types of sources across geographical regions.
Maximizing Energy Efficiency
Careful planning of solar and wind energy installations allows for the optimization of supply while reducing energy storage costs through batteries. By effectively translating high-resolution weather and electrical demand data, researchers adapt installations to precisely meet the temporal variations of energy demand, themselves influenced by climatic factors. This marks a significant advancement in the integration of these clean energies into a global energy system.
Potentialities of Energy Complementarity
Data analyses and developed models encourage rethinking the placement of installations. For example, in New England, it appears that placing wind farms in areas that are otherwise less windy but regularly active at night compensates for the lack of sunshine. Thus, the principle of complementarity makes perfect sense by balancing fluctuations and productions throughout the day to reduce fossil fuel needs during peak demand periods.
