Advancing the Global Integration of Solar and Wind Power: Current Status and Challenges

Abstract

The accelerating deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind power has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of global electricity systems. This article investigates the current status and emerging challenges associated with the large-scale integration of variable renewable energy (VRE) across diverse power systems worldwide. A special focus is then given to the issue of solar and wind curtailment, exploring both technical and economic implications and emphasizing the need for context-specific strategies to optimize system performance. The article further addresses two key technical challenges: maintaining system stability amid the displacement of synchronous generators, and meeting growing flexibility needs across multiple timescales as VRE shares increase. Finally, the article offers a set of policy recommendations aimed at enabling efficient, resilient, and sustainable integration of solar and wind energy. These include investment in grid infrastructure, reform of market structures, deployment of flexibility resources, and alignment of climate and energy policies. Together, these insights provide a comprehensive foundation for guiding the next phase of global energy transitions.