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Decarbonizing electricity generation through deployment of renewable technologies such as wind and solar is a key component of many climate change mitigation efforts. With increasing penetrations, the need to manage variability in renewable generation becomes critical. However, renewable variability is often poorly represented in energy planning studies which focus on energy and capacity adequacy. In this study, we used a hybrid capacity expansion and dispatch model with explicit inclusion of ramping and regulation services to examine balancing requirements in a decarbonizing electricity system. We find that ramping and regulation services needed for management of variable renewables alter the optimal mix of generation and transmission capacity relative to simpler planning models. In particular, we find enhanced value in expanding transmission capacity to access flexibility. • Representing short-term constraints in long-term energy models changes the outcome. • Flexibility is a key constraint in systems with high penetrations of renewables. • Interregional transmission can help provide system flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Abatement cost of electrification of road vehicle fleet range from 14 to 21 $/tCO 2e. • Electricity cost is up to 9% higher in scenarios with transport electrification. • Eliminating renewable target negates 60% of GHG benefits of transport electrification. • Use of UCC in half of available fleet may decrease generation capacity needs by 7%. To mitigate emissions from the electricity and transportation sectors, large scale deployment of renewable energy generators and battery electric vehicles are expected in the coming decades. However, adoption of these technologies may exacerbate issues related to mismatch of electricity supply and demand. In this study, we utilize a hybrid capacity expansion and dispatch model to quantify grid impacts of the conversion of the entire road vehicle fleet to electric vehicles by 2050. We examine impacts of policies, such as targeting a renewable energy penetration of 93%, using British Columbia as a case study. Scenarios making use of utility controlled charging of vehicles to balance supply and demand are further analyzed. Results show that although electrifying the entire road vehicle fleet will require generation capacity to increase by up to 60%, relative to a scenario without electrification, levelized cost of electricity only increases by 9% in the same scenario due to availability of low cost generation options such as wind and solar. We also find that a 93% renewable energy target leads to carbon abatement costs 30% lower than a scenario where this policy is removed. Further use of utility controlled charging reduces total system capacity up to 7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]