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Created with Google NotebookLM, May 16th, 2025
EPIcenter affiliates Gaurav Doshi and Matthew Oliver’s article in The Energy Forum discusses the why grid operators occasionally curtail wind and solar output when transmission capacity is insufficient or demand is low, and the economic and environmental impacts of these decisions. Congestion-based curtailment arises when the transmission network cannot accommodate all generated power, while load-based curtailment occurs when available renewable generation exceeds demand during periods of low consumption. In the short term, curtailment necessitates increased reliance on fossil-fuel generators, leading to higher emissions and market inefficiencies. Over the long term, persistent curtailment may discourage investment in new renewable projects by reducing expected returns, thereby slowing the transition to a low-carbon energy system. Strategic deployment of energy storage, targeted transmission upgrades, and flexible demand-response measures can mitigate both types of curtailment. By aligning infrastructure development and market design with evolving renewable capacity, policymakers and system planners can minimize wasted renewable energy, enhance reliability, and support continued growth in wind and solar generation.
This summary was written with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot on June 5th, 2025. Its content was edited and verified by EPIcenter staff and affiliates.
Read the full paper: https://iaee.org/newsletter/issue/119