How To Balance Global Energy Systems with Elena Pravettoni and Phoebe O'Hara (Systemiq)

Sep 18, 2025

Elena Paravettoni and Phoebe O'Hara from the Energy Transitions Commission dive deep into clean electrification and power systems transformation. They explore the differences between sunbelt and windbelt resources, highlighting the cost implications for energy generation. The duo discusses the economics of long-distance interconnectors and their potential to deliver low-cost power, while also examining backup options for energy reliability. They emphasize essential policy enablers and demand-side flexibility, making the case for innovative approaches in the energy sector.

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INSIGHT

Clean Electrification Is The Core Path

Clean electrification is central: electrifying end-uses plus wind and solar will do most decarbonization heavy lifting.
Electricity demand must grow ~3x by 2050, requiring massive generation and system change.

INSIGHT

Sunbelt Vs Windbelt Balancing Needs

Sunbelt countries get steadier solar output and lower seasonal demand swings, so they mainly need short-duration balancing.
Wind-belt countries face winter peaks and wind droughts, requiring weekly-to-security-level balancing assets.

INSIGHT

Big Cost Gap Between Sun And Wind Regions

Sunbelt total system costs can be much lower than today because cheap solar+batteries drive down LCOE.
Windbelt systems cost more (example: ~$115/MWh) but remain comparable to current system costs.

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Which regions are best positioned for the clean energy transition and what does it really cost to balance these variable power sources across a global energy system? The transition is not just about choosing the cheapest technology upfront. It’s about understanding the system-wide costs of integrating renewables.

As the world races to electrify, countries face starkly different starting points. Some have abundant solar resources; others rely on wind. But no matter the geography, the same challenge emerges: how do we balance intermittent renewables while keeping costs down for consumers? Every country will have to solve the balance challenge, but the path will look different depending on local resources.

In this episode of Transmission, Elena Pravettoni and Phoebe O’Hara from SystemE&Piq join us to unpack one of the most pressing questions in energy today: how to design power systems that are clean, affordable, and reliable at scale.

In this conversation, we cover:

Sun belts vs wind hotspots: Which geographies are better placed for the clean energy transition, and why local resources matter.
Why building renewables is only half the challenge, and how flexibility shapes the true system cost.
The role of storage, interconnection and demand response - the tools that make variable renewables reliable and affordable at scale.
Global lessons in power system design – what countries can learn from each other.
The importance of looking beyond cheapest generation to understand long-term system costs.

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About our guests

Elena Pravettoni is Head of Analysis at the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), where she leads research and insights to support policymakers and industry leaders in accelerating the global energy transition. Her work focuses on system-wide analysis to guide decision-making on clean power, decarbonisation pathways, and cost-effective solutions for net zero.

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Phoebe O’Hara is Head of Clean Power at the ETC, where she leads work on power system transformation and is the lead author of the Commission’s recent report on the future of global clean power. With a background in battery storage and energy innovation, Phoebe brings deep expertise on the technologies and policies that enable reliable, affordable renewable energy at scale.

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For more information on the Energy Transmissions Commision or Systemiq, check out their websites.

https://www.systemiq.earth/

https://www.energy-transitions.org/

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