AICE Environmental Case Studies Practice Exam

Intermittency is the uneven production of renewable energy, since solar and wind only generate power when conditions allow. Energy storage directly tackles this by capturing excess electricity when generation is high and releasing it during periods of low or no generation, helping to keep the grid stable and meet demand consistently. This smoothing effect is essential for renewables to replace fossil fuels reliably, as storage can be in batteries, pumped hydro, or other forms that match supply with demand across short-term and even longer-term gaps. The other options don’t address the timing of supply. Drilling for oil creates another energy source but doesn’t fix when renewables produce power or help balance the grid. Reducing planning would undermine system reliability, not improve it. Removing subsidies affects economics, not the immediate ability to balance supply and demand with stored energy.