Thermal Power Plants – a Vital Asset in a New Energy World

EURELECTRIC has published a paper on the importance of thermal generation to underline their necessity for the security of supply in an increasingly variable renewable electricity market.

In most European countries, wind and solar are the main drivers for the increasing share of renewables in electricity generation. In windy and sunny hours, a major share of electricity is produced from such renewable energy sources. However, the total need for dispatchable generating plants (thermal generation, hydropower and nuclear power) that can adjust their power output to demand is not expected to decrease significantly in the near future.

Although smart grids, demand response and storages are expected to play a growing role in ensuring the balance between electricity demand and supply, these sources cannot completely replace thermal generation as a provider of secured capacity. For economical and technical reasons, thermal generation will remain a key asset.