How can you diversify the power mix with renewable energy?

Renewable energy also includes the use of biogenic gases - i.e. biogas. The are renewable energy as the carbon content of the feedstock comes from the short term carbon cycle. When integrating carbon capture to a biogas engine or a biogas upgrader, you have the potential to sequester that CO2 and hence support net carbon negativity rather than just carbon neutrality. Renewable gases such as biogas or hydrogen are also dispatchable - i.e. can be used to balance the intermittent nature of wind and solar energy that doesn't always generate energy when it is needed.

The biggest challenge of renewable energy is intermittency. This can be addressed by storing power as times of surplus - i.e. an over capacity in generation can be stored in batteries or converted into green hydrogen through electrolysis. Governments are one of the greatest challenges to renewable energy deployment as they can retract feed in tariffs or subsidies in accordance with their own political motivations. Renewable energy must therefore mature and become a technology that has the full value associated with it.

Having an open electricity market that facilitates renewable energy installation at both grid or behind meter level helps in RE integration. The two key ways are micro-grids and energy storage. Rapid scale up of latter's installation is an increasing phenomenon. Utility-scale battery energy storage systems prove their money's worth when paired with solar/wind farms. They charge up when demand and energy price is low and discharge during peak demand to mitigate shortfall in supply through renewables while also reducing pressure on conventional power sources (also helps reduce emissions linked to them). Microgrids (Solar) help communities to source power from distributed energy sources in areas of limited to no grid access.

Renewable energy must be either integrated at grid scale or behind the meter. For behind the meter integration there are similar challenges at grid scale - i.e. intermittency, but there is the potential to supply surplus power to the grid. The more deregulated the grid is and more real market forces can be brought in to play, then the higher the value behind the meter assets can gain through integration to the energy grid.

Diversifying the power mix with renewable energy sources is a key strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance energy security, and create new economic opportunities. However, integrating more renewables into the grid also poses some technical and regulatory challenges that require careful planning and coordination. In this article, you will learn about some of the benefits and barriers of renewable energy, as well as some of the solutions and best practices to overcome them.

As increasing levels of intermittent renewable energy hits the power generation networks visibility moves to ensuring power supply matches demand. Renewable energy is not only wind and solar and includes dispatchable renewable power such as biogas, biomethane / renewable natural gas and hydrogen along with other biofuels. Intermittent renewable energy can be stored in batteries or other storage mediums to help time shift energy, but this is not a generation source. Ensuring power grids enable visibility in the real time value of electricity and heat can enable suppliers to develop solutions that best meet the needs of the grid.

Also consider the World Biogas Association when considering the use and deployment of biogas and biomethane / renewable natural gas. Associated organisations such as the Cogen World Coalition that address the energy efficient use of renewable fuels through combined heat and power technology can also be considered. The International Solid Waste Association also has a trade organisation that can be considered when renewable energy has a waste to energy angle.