Daily Perspective: Baseload electricity from renewables

It used to be said that renewables cannot provide 24/7 electricity. This project in Australia says otherwise.

Electricity grids cannot run at high levels of renewables without material support from fossil fuel power - it’s obvious, isn’t it, except it’s not.

Big investment theme - Many commentators say that variable renewables cannot power the electricity grid without fossil fuels (mostly gas) as they cannot provide what they call baseload power, by which they mean 24/7. When we started in this industry, many said that renewables could not be more than 10% of load, that went up to 20% and now 50% plus is generally accepted. The next step is to get to 80-90% (beyond that is currently expensive) - which means adding in interconnectors, short/mid duration storage and demand management. Some countries are there already, mostly using hydro. This is the big investment theme of the next decade.

As reported in reneweconomy, French renewable energy developer Neoen says it has signed a first of its kind 'baseload' contract with mining giant BHP to supply power to its huge Olympic Dam copper mine in South Australia with a combination of wind and battery storage.

The contract is for 70MW and will deliver energy 24/7. The wind power will come from the first 412MW stage of the Goyder South wind farm, now under construction. It will be supported by a new 300MW big battery at Blyth, also in South Australia, that could have up to 800MWh of storage.

There is increasing evidence that 50% plus renewables can be delivered, cost effectively. And 80-90% doesn’t feel that far away.