The Hidden Cost of Going Green
Politicians are curious creatures. There’s something undeniably appealing about cutting ribbons at massive solar or wind farms and being seen as champions of green progress. But somehow, calling for the less glamorous—but absolutely essential—investments in grid infrastructure and energy storage doesn’t get the same spotlight. And when those parts are overlooked, well… we end up in the dark—literally.
What’s even more puzzling is how renewable energy producers can connect to the grid, sell their electricity, and walk away—while someone else is expected to fill the gaps when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow. Renewable energy only looks cheap because there’s no built-in obligation to provide a stable, 24/7 supply. That burden quietly falls on “others”—usually the grid operators and backup generators.
El País recently ran an excellent piece exploring this issue in the context of the Iberian Peninsula blackout. It’s only available in Spanish, but if you’re interested, it’s well worth translating.