8 | Prysmian Group | Energy transition - White paper 2022 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 Annual electricity generation in TWh Wind energy = 50% Coal Gas Oil Fossil fuel with CCS Nuclear Wind onshore Wind offshore Solar Bioenergy with CCS Other RES 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 Power grids as enablers for the transition Networks of millions of small and large power stations already provide electricity to our homes, workplaces and industries. However, electrifying building heating systems, the transport sector and industrial processes to a greater extent will require a considerable expansion of existing grids. TheCommissionenvisages 1000GWonshorewindby 2050 (up from165GWtoday) and 300GWoffshore wind (up from15GWtoday). It sees onshore wind generating 2,300 TWh a year by 2050 and offshore wind 1,200 TWh. Strong connections between renewablepower supply stations, especially wind farms, and areas of highenergy demand are necessary to account for weather-related variations inenergy supply. By integratingdifferent energy sourceswithdiversegeographical andweather zones, thegrid can smoothout variable electricity generation. In thisway, awell-designedpower grid network is a cost-effectiveway toharness energy surpluses in very sunny andwindy locations and fill ingaps in cloudy areas or thosewithoutwind. Source: WindEurope based on European Commission Impact Assessment, Getting fit for 55 and set for 2050 - Electrifying Europe with wind Energy(2021) Europe’s electricity mix to 2050 Power grids as agents of social transformation It is challenging, for instance, to generate electricity for an entire urban area within a city’s limits, so power grids will also need to be able to transport electricity from areas with good solar and wind resources to those with high demand for energy, like cities and industrial areas, often very far away from the resources. As renewable energy is cheaper to generate far from residential and manufacturing regions, a strong grid that can transport electricity long distances is essential. Grids also have the potential to transform socioeconomic environments: for example, a well-designed network can create jobs and income in rural areas, that are rich in resources. Communities that generate their own renewable energy may want to sell surplus power to areas where there is a high energy demand.
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