The research looked into the vulnerability of power grids served by WD-RESs such as solar and wind paints a hopeful picture as Ireland attempts to meet its climate emissions targets.
It was conducted with US blackout data from 2001 to 2020 - with the insights helping Ireland transition to power grids supplied by WD-RESs.
The research found that power systems with higher WD-RES penetration did not have more blackout vulnerability and when they did occur they had reduced intensity in high WD-RES penetration grids.
Additionally, although analyses showed that extreme weather increases a power system’s vulnerability to blackouts, high WD-RES penetration does not worsen the weather vulnerability of power systems – even when solely considering weather-induced blackouts.
“Some have claimed that unstable RESs are responsible for increasing power grid unreliability under extreme climate conditions, whereas others have argued that wind and solar generation tend to be available even during extreme weather,” said Jin Zhao, Assistant Professor in Trinity’s School of Engineering, who led the research.
“The lack of understanding of the impacts of WD-RESs on power system blackouts has raised doubts about their use and, in some cases, driven a backlash against wind and solar integration. Considering the ambitious high-RES penetration and carbon emission goals that have been set for future power systems, it was high time we improved our understanding of the role RESs play in blackouts.”
