Can Europe’s renewables cope with the Dunkelflaute problem?

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Financial Times or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Europe is advancing its renewable energy projects, exemplified by the Baltic Eagle wind farm, but faces challenges during "Dunkelflaute"—periods of low wind and sunlight
• Policymakers and experts are strategizing to address energy gaps during these times.

🔭 The context: Historically, Europe has experienced several prolonged cold spells with little wind, impacting energy production
• As Europe transitions to renewable energy, with a target of 96% electricity from renewables by 2050, ensuring reliable energy storage and alternative solutions is crucial

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Transitioning to renewable energy is vital for reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change
• Effective solutions for periods of low renewable energy production are necessary to maintain energy security and meet climate goals

⏭️ What's next: Enhancing energy storage, such as pumped storage hydropower and hydrogen, and developing long-term storage solutions are key priorities
• Collaboration across Europe, supported by policy and infrastructure, will be essential to manage energy supply during Dunkelflaute

💬 One quote: "We recognise that climates are changing, so how often these will occur is a bit hard to know. But being ready for these kinds of periods should be part of the planning." — Brent Wanner, IEA

📈 One stat: Modelling suggests 96% of Europe’s electricity will come from renewable sources by 2050, compared with around 44% now.

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