What’s happening
Regions with high solar and wind already see frequent periods of very low or negative power prices. Some industries are beginning to schedule energy-hungry work around them.
Timing: LATER — roughly 5–15 years before this becomes structural.
Why it matters
Cheap, abundant power could attract data centres, hydrogen production, manufacturing and desalination — reshaping where industry locates.
What would make it real
- Businesses built specifically to use surplus power
- Storage and transmission turn occasional surpluses into dependable supply
- Market rules that let consumers access low prices directly
What would kill it
- Transmission limits trap cheap power where it can’t be used
- Storage absorbs surpluses and prices even out
- Policy changes slow renewable growth