The future of renewable energy
Software will be increasingly important to manage renewable power into energy systems
A decade ago, coal and nuclear were the main sources of power, supplemented by gas when grids required extra capacity. Today, all three of these industries remain manual. In many cases, a human presses a physical button for the factory to start. It is a slow process. Since then, renewable energy has increasingly taken market share. While renewables are more technologically advanced forms of power generation, they are ones which could not be controlled to the same extent as coal, nuclear and gas. Now we have an issue; grids are at capacity during peak times. In August 2019, the UK experienced one of its worst ever blackouts and the grid is set to come under greater stress. The country that ha
Also in this section
29 April 2026
The UAE’s exit from the alliance marks a decisive step towards a world in which oil markets are shaped less by collective management and more by national strategy
29 April 2026
Trafigura’s $1b prepayment agreement confirms African resource holders’ renewed interest in oil-backed financing deals as they look to capitalise on high oil prices
29 April 2026
The UAE’s departure from the oil producers’ group was a surprise to many, but the move can be traced back to a single point five years ago
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
