3 minutes to understand the energy challenges in 2025

Do you have 3 minutes? That’s all you need to understand the energy challenges we face by 2025.

Because the advance of renewable energies continues slowly but surely, but it also faces significant obstacles. There are still challenges we must face to achieve a cleaner and more efficient energy system. But what are these challenges?

1. Improving electricity infrastructures

Electricity infrastructures are designed to be powered by traditional power plants, such as coal or gas-fired plants, which generate electricity on a constant basis. In contrast, renewable energies, such as solar and wind, generate electricity intermittently due to their dependence on natural factors (sun and wind). This variability requires electricity grids to be able to efficiently manage peaks and troughs of production.

The challenge here is to modernise the infrastructure. To guarantee the stability of the electricity system, it is necessary to develop smart grids capable of adjusting supply to demand in real time. Infrastructures must be flexible to support large energy flows from multiple sources.

 2. Energy storage

One of the biggest obstacles to the development of renewable energies is their intermittent nature. Unlike conventional power plants, which can operate continuously, renewables only generate electricity when conditions are favourable. This creates a problem when there is no sun or wind, which can lead to shortages in electricity generation at certain times.

To address this challenge, energy storage becomes an indispensable solution. Storage technologies, such as high-capacity batteries, make it possible to store surplus energy produced at times of high generation and release it when demand requires it. This not only helps stabilise the grid, but also optimises the use of the electricity generated, reducing waste and ensuring a reliable and constant supply.

3. Integration of green hydrogen and biofuels

While renewable electricity can decarbonise many sectors, such as residential or land transport, there are sectors where electrification is more complex, such as maritime and air transport or heavy industry. This is where green hydrogen and biofuels, two energy alternatives with great potential, come into play.

Green hydrogen, produced from renewable sources, has the potential to revolutionise these sectors, as it can store large amounts of energy and generate clean electricity. Similarly, biofuels can be used in existing engines and turbines with minimal adaptations, offering a smoother transition to clean technologies. However, the infrastructure for their production and distribution is still under development, and therefore represents a challenge in the short term.

4. Energy prices and energy efficiency

The expansion of renewables has been successful in reducing electricity prices in the long term, as technologies such as solar and wind have very low operating costs once installed. However, intermittency in production can cause price volatility, especially during peak demand when renewables do not generate enough power.

On the other hand, energy efficiency has become an essential pillar. Getting both households and businesses to use energy more efficiently will reduce pressure on the electricity grid. The use of more efficient technologies, such as energy-efficient appliances and industrial systems, can reduce overall demand, facilitating the integration of renewable energy and reducing the impact of price volatility.

5. Regulation and Energy Policies

The regulatory framework is one of the basic aspects to ensure the success of the energy transition. Energy policies must be clear and coherent, providing incentives for investment in clean technologies and ensuring the integration of renewables into the system. The lack of adequate legislation can slow down the adoption of these energies and generate uncertainty.

To ensure the development of renewables, governments must act. This includes subsidies for clean energy projects, regulations that facilitate the installation of infrastructure and legal frameworks that favour the adoption of efficient technologies. Without coordinated policy support, the energy transition could be compromised.

Conclusion

The transition to an energy model based on renewable energies is essential to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable future. However, 2025 still has to overcome challenges in areas such as infrastructure, storage, integration of new technologies, price stability and the regulatory framework. Overcoming these obstacles will require investment and strong political and social commitment to make clean energy a reality accessible to all.