The world is facing an “energy trilemma” while trying to implement the energy transition to the net zero emissions target. This means that countries have to diversify their power generation sources because renewables alone cannot offer secure supply. Thus, natural gas is of the essence, said Thomas Schultze, Sales Manager for Power Generation at Solar Turbines.

“There is a trilemma at play. First, we need to diversify energy production. Second, focusing on a single energy source is not a solution—renewables and gas-fired power plants need to work in tandem. Third, Romania’s energy needs require specific, localized solutions due to the country’s size and diverse infrastructure,” he said at the conference “Digitalization and Energy Efficiency – Iasi 2024”, organised by Energynomics.

In addition, no country can rely solely on solar or wind power, because renewables fail to provide consistent energy due to weather conditions or seasonal fluctuations. And in this context, natural gas becomes the essential backup. Gas-fired turbines are flexible and can quickly ramp up when renewable sources cannot meet demand, ensuring a stable and secure energy supply.

“Renewables are a good thing, but gas is also a good thing. To solve this trilemma, we need a mix that includes renewables but also relies on natural gas to provide energy whenever and wherever it is needed. Hybrid micro grids are the solution. Solar and wind energy need to be backed by gas turbines because these systems are flexible and can improve overall efficiency as Romania moves away from coal,” Schultze added.

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Solar Turbines has already sold 28 gas turbine units in Romania, primarily to paper factories, district heating plants, chemical industries, and natural gas industries.

This conference “Digitalization and Energy Efficiency – Iasi 2024” was organised by Energynomics with the support of the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Romania – CCIpR and of our partners: Datacor, Exim Banca Românească, Polytrade Global, Solar Turbines, UniCredit Bank, WALDEVAR .