Többletenergia

Többletenergia, meaning surplus energy, refers to electricity generation that exceeds the immediate demand of the power system and the capacity available to store or export it at a given moment. It most often arises when high output from intermittent sources such as wind and solar coincides with low consumption, or when transmission and storage constraints limit the ability to balance supply and demand.

Causes and context include:

- High renewable generation during periods of low demand, such as sunny or windy days with mild consumption.

- Constraints on interconnections that prevent exporting excess power to neighboring grids.

- Limited storage options, whether due to lack of capacity or technical readiness, preventing absorption of excess supply.

- Design features or market rules that do not fully align generation incentives with real-time balancing needs.

Implications can affect both the electricity market and grid operation. Prices may fall or become negative during sustained surpluses, signaling a need to reduce production or increase consumption elsewhere. Producers may face revenue risk if they must curtail output, and grid operators must manage stability with rapid changes in supply. Long-term implications include the value of investment in storage technologies, demand-side flexibility, and cross-border interconnections.

Management and policy responses focus on increasing flexibility: expanding storage capacity (batteries, pumped hydro), implementing demand-response programs, enhancing interconnections, and refining market designs to better price and allocate surplus energy. Accurate forecasting and real-time balancing tools also help mitigate the effects of surplus energy.

See also: renewable energy, grid storage, demand response, energy markets, curtailment.