Niklas Hartmann

Levelized Cost of Electricity: PV and CPV in Comparison to Other Technologies

This paper presents the findings of the Fraunhofer ISE study on the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of renewable energy technologies with a focus on PV (Fraunhofer ISE, 2013). It predicts future cost and market developments through 2030 based on technology-specific learning curves and market scenarios. Photovoltaics (PV) are assessed in Germany. Moreover, the solar technologies PV and concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) are analyzed in regions with higher solar irradiation. They are compared to other renewable energy technologies such as (onshore and offshore) wind power, concentrating solar power (CSP) and biogas on the basis of common market financing costs. The current and future LCOE for new conventional power plants (brown coal, hard coal, combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT), oil-fired power plants) are calculated as a reference.

Using demand side management and CHP in renewable dominated decentral energy systems: a case study

Germany targets to increase the electricity generation from renewable energy sources and combined heat and power plants. The selected targets increase the total cost of electricity carried by consumers as well as increases the share of decentralized energy generation. To achieve higher cost effectiveness as well as increasing the decentralized share of renewable energy, pressure is put on decentralized energy system operation management and expansion planning. This work studies a decentralized expansion planning with a special focus in generating flexibility options in a decentralized region with a high share of renewable energy generation. The analysis is conducted with a scenario-based optimization modeling approach. The results show that flexibility options can reduce the cost of the system. However, the side effect of a decentralized market-oriented operation can lead to a difficulty of grid control. The region should set a long term expansion plan with the consideration of flexibility options, generation technologies as well as ICT infrastructure.

The role of CSP in the electricity system of South Africa – technical operation, grid constraints, market structure and economics

This paper analyses the role of solar technologies (CSP and PV) and their interaction in the South African electricity system by using a fundamental electricity system modelling (ENTIGRIS-SouthAfrica). The model is used to analyse the South African long-term electricity generation portfolio mix, optimized site selection and required transmission capacities until the year 2050. Hereby especially the location and grid integration of solar technology (PV and CSP) and wind power plants is analysed. This analysis is carried out by using detailed resource assessment of both technologies. A cluster approach is presented to reduce complexity by integrating the data in an optimization model.

Decentralised market agent — Accessing central markets with demand side management technologies

Within the German energy transition, several challenges arise. Shifting electricity supply from a centralistic, unidirectional system towards a decentralized, bi-directional system with a significantly increased number of stakeholders and thus conflicting interests leads to a number of technical, political, social and economic debates. However, there is an overall agreement that the importance of distribution grid operation, decentralised energy generation and flexible generation technologies will be essential elements of future energy systems. This paper presents the concept of a new market role, the “Decentralised Market Agent” (DMA), which optimizes the system operation and expansion on distribution grid level. To do so, one of the potential flexibility technologies is Demand Side Management (DSM), which is analysed in more detail in this paper. With regard to the tasks and objective of the DMA, the requirements and potentials of DSM are discussed and evaluated qualitatively. Based on this, an analysis of applicable DSM measures in households as well as for an industrial consumer is conducted. This serves as a basis for the evaluation of the technical and economic potential DSM might hold for the DMA.

Model based analysis of the EU power system based on RES — A case study for Greece and Germany

This paper presents an application of an improved version of the PRIMES model focusing on possible synergies between the German and Greek power sectors from high development of renewable power in both countries depending on respective resources. The analysis explores two scenarios of increasing penetration of RES and assesses possible building of new interconnection pathways between Greece and Germany. The assessment inquires on whether the enhanced system could capture benefits from energy system and resource complementarities between the two countries taking into account developments in other neighboring countries. The analysis concludes that the interconnection incurs benefits for both countries and that its economic viability can be supported in the context of a high RES development strategy.

Renewable energy expansion and interaction in Europe: High resolution of RES potentials in energy system modeling

This paper describes a new approach of integrating renewable energy sources (RES) and their potentials into an energy system model. To enable detailed national results for the European electricity system on a sub-national level for Germany and Greece, an approach is developed to implement many technology specific classes of RE potentials for small subnational regions into an optimization model for the European electricity market (RESlion-Europe). The RES potentials for wind onshore and photovoltaic (PV) are evaluated by using a geographical information system (GIS) to integrate specific information about land cover, weather data and specific land use of each technology. By defining five different weather classes per model region, an improved site selection for RE power plants in the optimization model is possible. With this approach, modeling results for the European electricity market are constrained by suitable land for RES, regional hourly weather profiles and distributed electricity generation from RES.

Stromerzeugung aus Windenergie

Im Gegensatz zu der direkten Sonnenenergie ist die Windenergie eine indirekte Art der Sonnenenergie. Die Einstrahlung der Sonne erwarmt die Erdoberflache und die daruber liegenden Luftschichten unterschiedlich – d. h., wegen ihrer niedrigen Warmekapazitat werden im Sommerhalbjahr die Kontinentalflachen bei Tag starker erwarmt als die Ozeane. Dies bewirkt auf verschiedenen Gebieten der Erdoberflache Dichte- und Druckunterschiede, die in fluktuierenden Luftstromungen ihren Ausgleich finden. Diese fluktuierenden Luftstromungen bzw.Winde konnen technisch durchWindenergieanlagen (WEA) genutzt werden, die in den stromenden Luftmassen enthaltene kinetische Energie in elektrische Energie umwandeln. Dabei wird die Energie des Windes uber die Rotorblatter zunachst in mechanische Rotationsenergie und dann uber einen Generator in elektrische Energie umgewandelt (Abb. 7.1).