Batteries and interconnection: Competing or complementary roles in the decarbonisation of the European power system?. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mehigan, L.; Ó Gallachóir, Brian; Deane, Paul
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 196(2022)
• Page Start: 1229
• Page End: 1240
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Power system modelling -- Battery energy storage systems -- Cross-border interconnection -- Variable renewable energy curtailment -- Wind power -- Solar power; 18.010 renewable energy systems -- 18.020 energy scenarios -- 18.030 Large‐scale wind integration -- 18.040 energy system models -- 19.060 CO2‐emissions; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.07.058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: Significant increases in renewable energy are needed in electricity systems in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the face of increasing electricity demand arising from the electrification of heat and transport. Greater flexibility is required in the electricity system to facilitate this, using proven flexibility providers such as batteries and interconnection or new technologies yet to be proven. This paper investigates how the relationship between battery and interconnection development and carbon price can impact carbon dioxide emissions and renewable energy curtailment. The study simulates twenty-eight scenarios and sensitivities using a unit commitment and economic dispatch model of a 2030 European power system that acknowledges that coal will not be fully eliminated from the 2030 generation mix. The results show that interconnection and battery deployment can alleviate renewable energy curtailment by over 2.4 TWh for the basecase, but a high carbon price is critical to ensuring their deployment plays a complementary role in reducing emissions. The paper also examines the impact of batteries and interconnection on solar and wind energy curtailment. It reveals that battery development nearly doubled the solar energy benefits achieved by interconnection development in some cases, while wind energy benefited more from interconnection development. Highlights: A high CO2 price is critical to IC and batteries achieving emissions reductions. IC can facilitate production of cheaper higher emitting fuels when CO2 price is low. Solar energy benefits more from deployment of batteries due to similar timescales. Diversity of wind profiles can be leveraged with increased interconnection. Regardless of CO2 price IC and batteries alleviate renewable energy curtailment.