The grid costs of renewable energy deployment

To make decarbonised electricity generation a reality, it is necessary to improve the exploitation of energy resources and the connection of renewable generation systems to the grid. As shown in this chapter, a successful deployment of power generation from variable renewable sources, such as wind and solar photovoltaic, requires the implementation of new ancillary services, which has an impact on the power system economic costs. This chapter seeks to look beyond the impact of renewable generation and aims to present the relevance of transmission and distribution networks and the economic fundamentals of power system operation. The chapter highlights the need to redefine the role of electricity networks to adapt to the future challenges related to energy transition characterised by a large penetration of renewable electricity generation and a higher electrification of consumption.