Solar and wind power generation range extender

Can a solar-wind system meet future energy demands?

Accelerating energy transition towards renewables is central to net-zero emissions. However, building a global power system dominated by solar and wind energy presents immense challenges. Here, we demonstrate the potential of a globally interconnected solar-wind system to meet future electricity demands.

What is the difference between flexible units and solar and wind generation?

In our model, solar and wind generation are explicitly modeled with high-resolution temporal and spatial variations, whereas flexible units are collectively represented as a dispatchable reserve used to balance residual load fluctuations after solar and wind generation and trans-regional exchanges have been accounted for.

How much electricity can a solar-wind power plant generate?

Our estimates suggest that the total electricity generation from global interconnectable solar-wind potential could reach a staggering level of [237.33 ± 1.95] × 10³ TWh/year (mean ± standard deviation; the standard deviation is due to climatic fluctuations).

Can global grid interconnection accelerate solar-wind transition?

Global grid interconnection represents a compelling pathway to accelerate this transition, particularly given the uneven geographic distribution of solar-wind potential (Fig. 1a).