A shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy is the practical solution to cater to the high demand for energy and as a tropical country, this is not a challenge for us. The reduction in renewable energy costs has been a massive boost and its impact on the energy matrix is quite visible. But the major concern with renewable energy resources is the number of variables associated with it. The variability of renewable energy generation refers to the fluctuating nature of electricity output from renewable sources such as solar and wind.

Unlike fossil fuel-based power generation, which can be controlled and adjusted to match the demand pattern, renewable energy generation depends on the availability of sunlight and wind, which can vary throughout the day and across seasons.

While conventional power plants can easily adjust their output to match demand, renewable energy generation is often inflexible. Solar panels generate electricity when exposed to sunlight, and wind turbines produce energy when there is sufficient wind speed. These factors are not directly controllable, leading to periods of high and low generation that may not align with the peak demand patterns.

Also, the periods when electricity consumption is at its highest, often occur during specific times of the day, for example, early evening when households and businesses simultaneously require more power. The challenge with renewable energy is that it may only sometimes align with these peak demand periods due to its inherent variability. This mismatch makes renewable energy only sometimes a reliable source leading to the requirement of alternative solutions to meet the high demand.