RES will not ensure energy stability

The recent heatwave on the US West Coast, including California, has caused many problems for its residents. The temperatures rose significantly, so the highly energy-intensive air conditioning systems were running at full capacity, which translated into a significant increase in electricity consumption. Due to the fact that California focused on a significant development of solar and wind energy with the simultaneous shutdown of gas and nuclear power plants, the city was deprived of stable energy sources. Initially, California Independent System Operator (ISO) announced the introduction of the state-wide Flex Alert, a call to save electricity, while the crisis occurred the next day, when the so-called Stage 3 Emergency - a mechanism denoting a situation in which the demand for energy exceeds the supply.This is the highest risk to the California grid and indicates that the operator is unable to prevent a power outage. The power supply interruptions affected as much as 3.3 million households and enterprises. Californian blackout is estimated to be one of the largest in US history and possibly the largest in California history.There is a risk that the overloaded system situation may repeat itself, as the wind is variable and the sun goes down every evening, so there may be no electricity. California, but also other countries striving for a complete energy transformation, should be faced with a choice - based on the recent events in California - whether to continue their energy transition towards an even greater share of renewable energy or to supplement the energy mix with other capacities ensuring energy stability.