How interconnection can support decarbonization
According to the US Energy Information Administration’s "International Energy Outlook 2021" global energy demand will rise 50% between 2020 and 2050, pushing the sector’s annual CO2 emissions up by 24.7%. Renewable energy will make up a far larger part of the total global power mix by 2050, growing 3.3% per year, but fossil fuels will remain in use. How can this be balanced with carbon reduction ambitions?
Global carbon dioxide emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 from 2010 levels and reach net-zero emissions by 2050 in order to reach the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. The energy sector has a vital role to play in this. In 2021, global energy-related CO2 emissions remained at 31.5 Gt, which contributed to CO2 reaching its highest ever average annual atmospheric concentration.
When looking at energy sector CO2 production in different countries, we see that carbon emissions of energy imports are not considered in the same way as those of locally produced power. An Aurora Energy Research study specifies that electricity imports are net-zero “only when supplied by renewables and nuclear sources, or when the grid emission factor of the exporting country is near zero during the time of exports.” Carbon emissions of imports can vary significantly depending on their source. If sustainable energy is exchanged as efficiently as possible, however, this will have a marked effect on decarbonisation.
One key challenge related to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, is the variability of yield. This can vary enormously from season to season and even day to day. Through smart transmission interconnection neighbouring regions can mitigate this by importing and exporting power. Interconnectors make it possible for countries to import zero-carbon energy from other regions to supplement their own generation mix. Or they can import energy when renewable source yields drop – for example, solar farms at night. That allows countries to maximise their clean use of energy resources and phase out fossil sources.
Power grid interconnection: expanding across the world.
North America: four power grids are interconnected across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Latin America: three main regions linked via grid interconnection Africa: The Africa Clean Energy Corridor (ACEC) enhances cross-border interconnection and trade of renewable power from Egypt to South Africa. Europe: a ‘Europe-Mediterranean-Middle East’ super-power grid is being planned for 2050. India: five regional grids interconnected via HVAC and HVDC links.
