Outdated power grids a major hurdle in renewable energy transition
Summary
Outdated electricity grids can limit how much power countries use from new wind and solar farms, slowing the shift away from fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency says annual grid investment must rise about 50% from its current level of $400 billion to meet electricity demand through 2030.Key Facts
- Turkey and Australia are co-hosting U.N. climate talks in Antalya this week, where organizers are calling for grid upgrades alongside renewable energy and fossil-fuel cuts.
- The U.N. launched a Global Grids Accelerator in September to help raise funding for electricity infrastructure in Africa and Southeast Asia.
- Global annual investment in electricity generation has risen nearly 70% since 2015 to $1 trillion, while grid spending has grown at less than half that pace, according to the International Energy Agency.
- The IEA estimates that annual grid investment needs to increase about 50% from $400 billion to meet electricity demand through 2030.
- When grids reach capacity, operators may curtail renewable power by ordering wind and solar farms to reduce output.
- China curtailed 360 terawatt-hours of wind and solar power in the first half of 2026, according to Global Energy Monitor and the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
- India curtailed 11 terawatt-hours of solar generation over 15 months spanning 2025 and 2026 because of limited transmission and storage capacity, according to Ember.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
