New model predicts wind power surge risks across turbines, farms and grids

One of the key challenges to climate-neutral power generation is addressing the risk of unpredictable power surges from renewables. Even with advanced turbine design or battery storage, a gust of wind or changing atmospheric conditions can cause a sudden spike in power output. This overgeneration can rapidly escalate up to volatile, potentially dangerous grid-wide surges and blackouts as generators become larger and more efficient, farms increase in size and number, and renewables take up an increasing fraction of total power production.