Power grid neglect stalls transition to clean energy: IEA

The IEA urged that 80 million km of grids must be added or replaced by 2040.

Governments around the world must increase or upgrade 80 million km of electrical grids by 2040, the equivalent of all grids worldwide currently in operation, to achieve their climate targets and initiate energy security, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported.

In a report, IEA found that efforts to combat climate change and transition to reliable sources of energy are at risk unless policymakers and businesses expand on or improve the existing power grids.

Increases in regulations and investments by US$600b a year by 2030 are also seen as essential towards preparing the current grid for its integration of clean energy plants.

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The IEA report also includes its first-ever stocktake of grids worldwide, resolving that existing systems cannot keep pace with the brisk growth and competitive nature of major renewable energy sources, like solar, wind, electric cars and heat pumps.

With grids serving a vital role for power systems for more than a century, the lack of attention towards gridlines will cause deficiencies in the infrastructure and delay any goal to prevent global warming by 1.5 degrees Celcius.

“The recent clean energy progress we have seen in many countries is unprecedented and cause for optimism, but it could be put in jeopardy if governments and businesses do not come together to ensure the world’s electricity grids are ready for the new global energy economy that is rapidly emerging,” Fatih Birol, Executive Director of IEA, stated.