Impacts of renewable energy shortages on air quality

Renewable energy shortages usually refer to prolonged periods of low wind speeds and reduced solar irradiance, which pose a significant threat to the stability of electricity supply. In future energy systems, fossil‑fuel power plants are typically relied upon to compensate for such energy deficits. By integrating an electricity system model with a chemical transport model, this study quantifies the impacts of renewable energy shortages on air quality in China during the 2050s. Our results show that under high‑renewable‑penetration scenarios, renewable energy shortages can increase PM_2.5 concentrations by up to 30% and O₃ levels by up to 20%. Incorporating these health‑related externalities into renewable capacity planning could significantly reduce electricity generation from fossil‑fuel plants, compared to scenarios that neglect these air‑quality impacts. These findings highlight the critical importance of integrating health‑cost considerations into energy system design.