Renewable energy is rapidly getting cheaper, but the level of output fluctuates a lot over time – wind generates less energy on still days, for example. This can mean that renewable energy sources are seen as less reliable than the alternatives.

One solution to this intermittency problem is to build a much greater supply overall. This might involve building enough (or even excess) generation capacity for peak demand, which would leave spare capacity when demand dips.

This abundant (but irregular) energy might create opportunities for society, making valuable new activities possible such as large-scale desalination of water for agriculture or removal of carbon dioxide from the air.

Identifying credible, exciting use cases for excess energy could help to encourage the investment in renewables needed to tackle climate change.

This project will explore:

• the social and economic opportunities and risks posed by abundant but irregular renewable energy
• which of these opportunities and risks are most likely and most important
• whether there’s anything we can do now to encourage them and promote debate about the wider potential benefits of renewables.

What will we do?

We are conducting a research and analysis project to identify broad use cases where there is the greatest opportunity for transformational change through abundant but irregular renewable energy. This has included a commissioned external historical analysis of lessons that might be learned from previous energy transitions.

We hope this work will help to build a positive social and economic public narrative about the future of renewable energy.