Decarbonizing the electricity sector in Qatar using PV combined with ice thermal and battery storage. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Al-Aali, I.; Modi, V.
• Is Part Of: Energy strategy reviews. Volume 44(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Ice storage -- Battery energy storage system -- Solar photovoltaic -- Deep decarbonization solutions -- High renewables penetration -- Sustainability -- Cooling load decarbonization -- Qatar energy; AC Air-Cooled -- AC CWS Air-Cooled Chilled Water System -- BESS Battery Energy Storage System -- Capex Capital Expenditure -- COP Coefficient of Performance -- CWS Chilled Water System -- D Demand -- DD Demand Directly -- DXS Direct Expansion System -- I-TES Ice Thermal Energy Storage -- OpEx Operation Expenditure -- PV Photovoltaics -- TR Ton of Refrigeration -- WC Water-Cooled -- WC CWS Water-Cooled Chilled Water System; Energy policy -- Periodicals; 333.7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.esr.2022.101014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-467X

Abstract

Abstract: High daytime electricity demand from space cooling synergetic with predictable and reliable solar insolation creates a unique opportunity to exploit solar PV-enabled decarbonization solutions in Qatar. This paper examines the economic viability of combining utility-scale PV with ice thermal and battery storage to decarbonize the electricity sector in Qatar, which exclusively runs on gas generation. The problem is formulated in a two-stage stochastic linear programming that minimizes annual system costs at a given gas price. Under the current gas price of $3.3/MMBtu (gas-generated electricity at $37/MWh), PV and ice storage deployed in Qatar could reduce gas generation use and peak demand by 43% and 18%, respectively, and cut the annual system costs by 20%. At a gas price of $6.5/MMBtu (equivalent to carbon pricing at $60/ton of CO2 ), gas generation can be reduced by 60% using PV and ice storage. Reducing gas generation further is challenging since both cooling and non-cooling demands peak in August, whereas PV generation peaks in June, producing less surplus generation at a time of need, and ice thermal storage cannot cost-effectively outcompete already existing gas generations for highly seasonal cooling needs. Battery storage becomes cost-effective above a gas price of $9.2/MMBtu (equivalent to carbon pricing at $110/ton of CO2 ); it is primarily used to manage the diurnal behavior of non-cooling loads and could decarbonize the electricity sector by around 90%. Highlights: Ice tanks as low-cost storage for cooling loads shifting. Electric cooling loads are estimated from correlations with ambient conditions. Below a gas price of $8.6/MMBtu, the cost-optimal system utilizes PV with ice storage. A system with a gas price of $3.3–8.6/MMBtu can reduce carbon emissions by 40–60%. A system with a gas price of $10.8/MMBtu can reduce carbon emissions by 90%.