Topic: Infrastructure- Energy
Q5. Renewables alone cannot anchor long-term energy security in the absence of storage adequacy and flexible thermal balancing. Discuss the grid-integration challenges and the broader economic implications. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: InsightsIAS
Why the question
High RE integration has exposed grid strain, storage shortfall and the continued necessity of flexible coal support for 24×7 energy security.Key demand of the question
The question requires establishing why renewables cannot independently assure long-term energy security and then analysing grid-integration constraints and the wider economic effects of storage-thermal dependence.Structure of the answer
Introduction
Briefly state India’s rapid RE expansion and underline why firmness and grid reliability needs storage and flexible thermal balancing.Body
- Show intermittency, ramping stress and absence of long-duration storage.
- Grid-integration challenges: Mention transmission congestion, curtailment risks, and shallow ancillary markets.
- Broader economic implications: Refer to system cost premium, tariff volatility, delayed coal phase-down and financing risk.
Conclusion
Emphasise that energy transition must shift from capacity addition to firm, secure and storage-backed reliability.
