Lessons learned from the RTE-IEA report on the technical feasibility of 100% renewable energies scenarios

In january 2020, the operator of the French power grid (RTE) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) published a report on the conditions for the technical feasibility of energy policies based on a strong penetration of renewable energies. 4 conditions are necessary to integrate a large share of renewable energies in the electricity production mix: maintaining the stability of the electricity system, assuring the security of power supply, creating important operational power reserves, and developing the power grid. It also appears that more than 90% of the necessary technologies to reach neutrality carbon are not yet available at the industrial scale. Counting on renewable energies alone appears to be a technological risky challenge. Concerning the economic impact, it appears that it can not be reduced to a comparison of the costs according to the different technologies for power production because these costs do not include the whole of the integration costs of renewable energies. Previous scenarios have shown an increase by 37% of the electricity cost for the consumer. (A.C.)