TESS

the sort of thing our TESS units help stabilize

On December 8, France experienced several hours where wholesale electricity prices fell to zero on the day-ahead market. This meant electricity supply briefly exceeded demand so strongly that power had no market cost.

A combination of mild winter temperatures reduced heating demand, while strong winds boosted wind power generation across the country. At the same time, France’s nuclear reactors were operating near full capacity, adding large amounts of steady baseload energy.

When electricity supply cannot be easily stored, excess production forces prices down, sometimes into negative or zero territory. Grid operators must balance this surplus instantly to keep the system stable.

Similar zero-price or negative-price events are becoming more frequent across Europe as renewable energy capacity expands faster than flexible storage solutions. Wind and solar output can spike rapidly, especially during low-demand periods.

While consumers don’t always receive free electricity directly, these moments offer a preview of a future energy system with abundant low-cost clean power. They also highlight the growing need for energy storage, smart grids, and flexible consumption.

The world’s solar capacity reached 1,419 gigawatts in 2023, way beyond any predictions.

Arctic sea ice hits record low for its usual peak growth period Arctic sea ice had its weakest winter buildup since record-keeping began 47 years ago, a symptom of climate change that will have repercussions globally, scientists said Thursday.

2 Dec 2024 Inuvik, NWT, Canada

-31 degrees