Upgrading power grids to accommodate renewable energy is a key issue at climate talks

Outdated power grids are a major hurdle in the transition to renewable energy, since older systems often can't absorb all the electricity from new, cleaner sources.

This threatens global efforts to curb climate change by reducing fossil fuels and switching to renewable energy such as solar and wind. At United Nations climate talks kicking off this week, co-hosts Turkey and Australia want more ambitious goals to slash fossil fuels, install renewables and upgrade grids.

Grid concerns are gaining urgency this year as nations race to improve their energy security following the Iran war. The U.N. recently launched a new initiative to rally funding for grid upgrades in Africa and Southeast Asia.

“There needs to be a massive, massive, massive scaling up of investments into grids if we are going to get close to meeting our climate, energy and development goals,” Selwin Hart, special adviser to the U.N. secretary-general on climate action, said.

At the U.N. climate talks, hosted in the Turkish resort city of Antalya, organizers describe modern and reliable electric grids as “the backbone of the clean energy system.”

But billions of dollars are needed to upgrade out-of-date grids. These steep costs could hinder further renewable energy installations.

During the U.N. General Assembly in September, the global body launched a Global Grids Accelerator to speed up international funding for electricity infrastructure in Africa and Southeast Asia.

“We’re very confident that the long-term trend is an acceleration of the pace of the energy transition, but we need the infrastructure, grids and storage, to really keep pace,” Hart said.

Annual investment in electricity generation, such as building new power plants, has risen by almost 70% since 2015, reaching $1 trillion a year, according to the International Energy Agency. Yet the agency noted annual grid spending has risen at less than half that pace.

To meet electricity demand through 2030, the IEA calculates annual grid investment must increase by about 50% from today’s $400 billion per year. Any delays will substantially increase global emissions by prolonging reliance on fossil fuels, the IEA warns.

“Power grids have not been readied enough for the scaleup of renewable electricity generation,” said Jan Rosenow, a professor of energy and climate policy at Oxford University. “We have been complacent in the past and now the grid has become a real bottleneck.”

Power grids deliver electricity from power plants to homes through a network of transmission and distribution lines, substations and transformers.

Originally designed around large, centralized power plants, many of today's power grids were built like one-way roads, with producers sending electricity to consumers. These older one-directional grids are being overwhelmed by demand surges and a boom in renewables.

Grids have a maximum capacity of electricity that they can safely store, transport and distribute. If a grid is already at capacity, solar and wind farms can be instructed to limit their electricity output, a process known as curtailment.

China and India, which have installed impressive amounts of renewables, can't take full advantage of the massive buildout for this reason.

China curtailed 360 terawatt-hours — close to the equivalent of the United Kingdom's annual electricity demand — of wind and solar electricity in the first half of 2026, according to Global Energy Monitor and the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

India curtailed 11 terawatt-hours of solar generation — enough electricity to power about 10 million homes — over the course of 15 months spanning 2025 and 2026 because of insufficient transmission and storage capacity, according to the energy think tank Ember.

Curtailing solar and wind generation while fossil fuels continue to supply electricity is a blow to climate efforts, especially since China and India are among the world's largest emitters, said James Abraham, with the New Delhi-based Council on Energy, Environment and Water.

To transition away from fossil fuels, he said, "you need a grid changeover. You need a grid transformation.”

Upgrading existing grids to be more flexible could increase efficiency by allowing electricity flows to adjust to supply and demand. It could help areas with excess solar and wind energy send it to places with higher electricity demand and fewer energy resources.

Newer, more flexible grids could also make it easier for utility companies to exchange electricity with households that have solar panels or battery storage.

But many countries can't afford to take these steps, or at least not quickly enough, according to Abraham, who said “the need is now. It’s a time tension rather than anything else.”

The Iran war's energy shock built up momentum for the energy transition, especially in hard-hit regions like Southeast Asia, but investment in renewables is outpacing grid development, said Gahee Han, with the Seoul-based nonprofit Solutions for Our Climate.

“Unless we upgrade our power grid in Asia, Asia will have no choice but to rely on the conventional power plants, like gas or coal,” she said. “It’s nonsense to rely on those power plants, especially considering the energy crisis.”

One of the solutions being promoted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is an interconnected power grid that would allow countries to trade power more easily, adding a safeguard against future shocks.

Interest in the ambitious plan, which is still in its infancy, is growing, according to Abdul Razib Dawood, executive director of the ASEAN Center for Energy.

“We have this crisis that will unify the region. You need your neighbors," he said. “This is an opportunity for us to really strengthen the cooperation.”

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FILE - High voltage transmission towers are visible as the sun sets in Sharpeville township, in Vereeniging, South Africa, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

FILE - Cao Ngan Thermal Power Station, a coal-fired power plant, operates Jan. 28, 2025, in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam. (AP Photo/Yannick Peterhans, File)

FILE - Solar panels cover land at the Unchahar solar power plant near the NTPC Unchahar Super Thermal Power Station in Raebareli district, India, Oct. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh, File)

The sun sets on a transmission tower near North Bangkok Power Plant in Bang Kruai, Nonthaburi Province, Thailand, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Anton L. Delgado)

Boats maneuver near the North Bangkok Power Plant in Bang Kruai, Nonthaburi Province, Thailand, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Anton L. Delgado)

A passenger rides a ferry with the North Bangkok Power Plant in the background in Bang Kruai, Nonthaburi Province, Thailand, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Anton L. Delgado)

SEATTLE (AP) — AJ Barner's breakout came just when the Seahawks needed it.

Barner caught a touchdown pass and ran for a score, and Seattle beat the Arizona Cardinals 17-3 on Sunday without starting quarterback Sam Darnold.

Backup Drew Lock completed 19 of 28 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown for the Seahawks (5-4), who rebounded from a 34-17 loss at home on Monday night to Chicago.

Barner's two touchdowns were the tight end's first this season.

“We understand what kind of player he is. So we can kind of feel the frustration with him of like what he expects from himself,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. “But just no flinch, just keep attacking it, you know. And he’s a leader on our offense, and he provides so much great energy.”

Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught seven passes for 51 yards in just his second game this season with fewer than 100 yards. He now has 1.036 yards on the season, becoming the third player in franchise history — along with Hall of Famer Steve Largent and Tyler Lockett — with three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Smith-Njigba is the first NFL receiver to reach 1,000 yards this year.

Gardner Minshew, known to fans in the Pacific Northwest because of his stellar 2018 season at Washington State, took over as the Cardinals' starting quarterback this week after leading Arizona to a come-from-behind overtime victory over Dallas. He unseated Jacoby Brissett, who was then traded to Baltimore.

There was no Minshew Magic in Seattle, however. He completed 21 of 30 passes for 166 yards as the Cardinals (3-6) dropped their 11th straight game to the Seahawks.

“We were a little bit off one way or another on a lot of our plays, and against a good team like that, you’re not going to have that many chances,” Minshew said.

Darnold was ruled out because of a quad injury he sustained on the final series of the loss to the Bears. Macdonald said Darnold also cracked a rib early in the game.

Darnold also missed Seattle’s Week 2 victory over the Cardinals because of a glute injury. He did not miss a game last season while leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl title.

Macdonald said after the game that Lock, who also led the team to a win at Arizona earlier this season, suffered an oblique injury during the game and his status going forward was uncertain. Lock characterized the injury as “not too bad.”

Lock had also been limited in practice this week because of tendinitis in his elbow. He was inactive for the previous two games.

“I’d say I felt pretty good going into it. The arm felt fresh; it felt good to start the game. And that’s kind of all the confidence I needed to be able to go out and not think about it and just play football,” Lock said.

Minshew led the Cardinals deep into Seahawks territory on the first series, helped by an unnecessary roughness penalty. The drive ended with Chad Ryland's 28-yard field goal to put Arizona up 3-0.

Barner dived for a 1-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. It was his third career rushing TD.

Seattle was helped by a pass interference penalty and Smith-Njigba's 18-yard reception on its final series before halftime. Barner went on to score on a 7-yard catch that was upheld by a replay review, and he saw no need to question the officials' ruling that he controlled the ball.

“They called it a catch on the field. They reviewed them. They called it a catch. So it’ll live on as a catch forever,” said Barner, who finished with two catches for 7 yards and had three carries for 3 yards.

The Seahawks extended the lead to 17-3 in the third quarter on Jason Myers' 45-yard field goal. Lock showed signs of the oblique injury on that drive, moving gingerly after grabbing his side on a throw. He went into the sideline medical tent but never left the game. Jalen Milroe was his backup.

Seattle made a key stop in the fourth quarter, successfully defending Minshew's pass attempt to Trey McBride on fourth-and-goal from the 2.

“I don’t care about the score. I just I just want us to go let it loose and go be us and feel like us,” Macdonald said. “And a lot of times we felt that way, and so that’s a that’s a that’s a positive step for us.”

Arizona DL Roy Lopez injured a toe early in the second quarter and did not return.

The Seahawks were already hit with a few notable injuries before the game. In addition to Darnold, DT Leonard Williams (stinger), WR Rashid Shaheed (knee) and LB Uchenna Nwoso (ankle) were ruled out.

The Cardinals host the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.

The Seahawks visit the Las Vegas Raiders next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) makes a touchdown catch against Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) as Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (1) looks on during an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) is unable to make a catch as Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori defends during an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew II, center, gets hit as he throws by Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) as Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) looks on during an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kevin Ng)

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Arizona Cardinals with Seahawks guard Josh Jones (74), guard Anthony Bradford (75) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) during an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)