P. Yowargana

Spatio-temporal Assessment of Integrating Intermittent Electricity in the EU Power Sector

The integration of solar and wind technologies into the energy supply system is becoming increasingly attractive as their costs per unit capacity drop and tight policies are being implemented against greenhouse gas emissions. However, their contribution to a power system is uncertain due to the intermittent nature of wind and insolation. Here, we investigate a power dispatch system that aims to supply the power demand of the EU based on low-carbon generation units enabled with expansion of biomass, solar, and wind energy. A spatially explicit techno-economic optimization tool simulates the EU power sector to explore policies for renewable energy deployment. Results show utility-scale deployment of intermittent electricity is feasible when incentivized with carbon tax. Expansion of transmissions capacity helps even-out intermittency of solar and wind technologies. Spatial assessment of bio-electricity potential (based on forest and crops residues) has small contribution to the optimal generation mix, limiting its effect as baseload.