06 December 2024
10:00 – 11:30 CET
Online
The second session of Connecting Energies 2024 explored the key approaches and enabling technologies that electricity grid operators used to balance electricity demand and supply. Load balancing and flexibility ensured the electricity grid operated safely by managing electricity during periods of surplus and scarcity while maintaining frequency and voltage.
Introduction
As we moved towards an energy system dominated by renewables, managing variability and uncertainty became critical, requiring new strategies to handle fluctuations in electricity generation. Grid flexibility solutions such as storage, demand-side management, and real-time monitoring were essential for dealing with these challenges.
Additionally, increasingly demand-driven decarbonisation approaches aimed at aligning renewable electricity generation with demand on an hourly basis, ensuring that every hour of consumption was powered by carbon-free sources. These practices, developed under the umbrella of the so-called 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) approach, had the potential to accelerate decarbonisation but required careful planning and implementation.
The session also addressed current and future trends and technological advancements in electricity grid management to ensure the grid remained stable and resilient in the face of increasing renewable energy integration. Learning these aspects enabled civil society organisations to better understand solutions that had a positive impact on the energy transition at large.
Event Speakers
Dr. Iegor Riepin
Staff Research Scientist | TU Berlin
Martin Kerin
Technology Enablement Manager (Interim) | Future Operations, EirGrid Group
Alexandros Fakas Kakouris
Moderator
Senior Manager – Energy and Policy Systems | RGI
Presentations
Session Recording
Media Partner
OSGP Alliance
Connecting Energies 2024
The Renewables Grid Initiative invited participants to Connecting Energies 2024, an expert-led training series designed to equip civil society with the knowledge needed to advocate for a decarbonised, renewables-based, and affordable energy system. This three-part webinar series covered fundamental aspects of the electricity system, including grid technologies, load balancing, flexibility, and electricity metering and pricing. Participants gained key insights into how grid infrastructure, technologies, and market mechanisms evolved to support the energy transition.
The sessions provided a deep dive into the physical components of the grid; key technologies and approaches that enabled the integration of renewable energy and ensured that green electricity was delivered at every hour, every day of the week (24/7); and the challenges and opportunities related to metering and pricing. Each session focused on practical concepts that NGOs could leverage in their advocacy efforts to drive faster renewable energy adoption and to support grid development and expansion. Whether participants were new to energy systems or looking to deepen their understanding, this training provided essential knowledge to support the shift to a net-zero future.
contact
Mara Zainea
mara[at]renewables-grid.euManager – Communication
Alexandros Fakas Kakouris
alexandros[at]renewables-grid.euSenior Manager – Energy and Policy Systems
Mara Zainea
mara[at]renewables-grid.euManager – Communication
Alexandros Fakas Kakouris
alexandros[at]renewables-grid.euSenior Manager – Energy and Policy Systems
