EP. 285 Inside Grid Congestion: An Aurora Deep Dive

April 14
33 mins

Episode Description

This week on Energy Unplugged, in the first of our new video series, Richard Howard, Global Head of Research at Aurora Energy Research, is joined by Marc Hedin, Head of Research for West Europe and Africa at Aurora Energy Research, to explore one of the most pressing challenges in power markets today: grid congestion.

Together, they unpack why curtailment is rising rapidly across Europe as renewable build-out outpaces grid expansion – and why this is becoming a critical risk for developers and investors. They examine how congestion impacts revenues, from reduced generation to increased volatility, and why traditional modelling approaches often underestimate the risk.

The conversation explores how different markets manage congestion – from nodal pricing in the US to redispatch in Europe – and highlights the growing complexity of market design, policy shifts, and grid reform.

Looking ahead, they discuss how more advanced modelling can better capture these dynamics, and the strategies available to mitigate risk – including co-location, portfolio optimisation, and smarter siting decisions.

You will learn about:

  • Why grid congestion and curtailment are rising across renewable markets 
  • How different market designs manage congestion globally 
  • The key risks for investors, from location effects to policy uncertainty 
  • How better modelling and asset strategies can mitigate – and even benefit from – congestion
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