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The goal of the European energy policy is to achieve climate neutrality. The long-term energy strategies of various European countries include additional targets such as the diversification of energy sources, maintenance of security of supply, and reduction of import dependency. When optimizing energy systems, these strategic policy targets are often only considered in a rudimentary manner and thus, the understanding of the corresponding interdependencies is lacking. Moreover, hydrogen is considered as a key component of a fully decarbonized energy system, but its role in the power sector remains unclear due to the low round-trip efficiencies.This study reveals how fully decarbonized European power systems can benefit from hydrogen in terms of overall system costs and the achievement of strategic policy targets. We analyzed a broad spectrum of scenarios using an energy system optimization model and varied model constraints that reflect strategic policy targets. Our results are threefold. First, compared to power systems without hydrogen, systems using hydrogen realize savings of 14–16% in terms of the total system costs. Second, the implementation of a hydrogen infrastructure reduces the number of infeasible scenarios when structural policy targets are considered within the power system. Third, the role of hydrogen is highly diverse at a national level. Particularly, in countries with low renewable energy potential, hydrogen plays a crucial role. Here, high levels of self-sufficiency and security of supply are achieved by deploying hydrogen-based power generation of up to 46% of their annual electricity demand, realized via imports of green hydrogen.

Battery electric vehicles (BEV) provide an opportunity to balance supply and demand in future power systems with high shares of fluctuating renewable energy. Compared to other storage systems such as pumped-storage hydroelectricity, electric vehicle energy demand is highly dependent on charging and connection choices of vehicle users. We present a model framework of a utility-based stock and flow model, a utility-based microsimulation of charging decisions, and an energy system model including respective interfaces to assess how the representation of battery electric vehicle charging affects energy system optimization results. We then apply the framework to a scenario study for controlled charging of nine million electric vehicles in Germany in 2030. Assuming a respective fleet power demand of 27 TWh, we analyze the difference between power-system-based and vehicle user-based charging decisions in two respective scenarios. Our results show that taking into account vehicle users’ charging and connection decisions significantly decreases the load shifting potential of controlled charging. The analysis of marginal values of equations and variables of the optimization problem yields valuable insights on the importance of specific constraints and optimization variables. Assumptions on fleet battery availability and a detailed representation of fast charging are found to have a strong impact on wind curtailment, renewable energy feed-in, and required gas power plant flexibility. A representation of fleet connection to the grid in high temporal detail is less important. Peak load can be reduced by 5% and 3% in both scenarios, respectively. Shifted load is robust across sensitivity analyses while other model results such as curtailment are more sensitive to factors such as underlying data years. Analyzing the importance of increased BEV fleet battery availability for power systems with different weather and electricity demand characteristics should be further scrutinized.

This paper presents a methodology for the development of normative energy scenarios. The focus is on cross-sectoral transformation pathways towards a completely renewable energy supply. By using the REMix energy model, which is temporal and spatially highly resolved, the least-cost power supply structure is assessed. The model also calculates additional storage and grid capacity necessary for the target year 2050. By analyzing the interactions of different technologies and sectors we provide a basis for the backcasting of a transformation pathway. This is carried out by a simulation model within the MESAP-PlaNet environment, covering the heat, transport & power sectors. We present and compare feasible transformation pathways towards a 100% renewable energy supply for two case studies, the Canary Islands and Brazil.

This work addresses the role of an enhanced integration of the power, heat and transport sectors in future energy supply systems with high shares of intermittent renewable power generation. Such integration is realized by technological linkages between the sectors, e.g. through combined heat and power (CHP) generation, electric heat pumps and electric vehicles. The analysis is focused on their application in Germany, and relies on a comprehensive and multi-step modelling approach.

Eine stärkere Verknüpfung von Strom-, Wärme-, Verkehrs- und Gassektor kann einen wesentlichen Beitrag zum Gelingen der Energiewende leisten. So können beispielsweise durch ein gesteuertes Laden von Elektrofahrzeugen, sowie einen optimierten Betrieb von Wärmepumpen und Kraft-Wärme-Kopplungs-Anlagen der Bedarf nach regelbaren Kraftwerken gesenkt, und Erzeugungsspitzen aus Windkraft- und Photovoltaikanlagen in höherem Maße genutzt werden. Im Zentrum des Vortrags steht die Analyse des wirtschaftlichen Potenzials verschiedener Sektorenkopplungstechnologien in einem überwiegend auf fluktuierenden Quellen basierenden Energieversorgungssystem in Deutschland. Die Untersuchungen stützen sich auf die Anwendung des DLR-Energiesystemmodells REMix, und behandeln auch die Frage, wie die Sektorenkopplung mit anderen Technologieoptionen, z.B. einem erweiterten Stromnetzausbau und dem Import regelbaren erneuerbaren Stroms, wechselwirkt.

Greenhouse gas reduction is one of the main challenges toward obtaining a more sustainable energy system. The diffusion of electricity generation technologies that rely on renewable resources is one promising option to tackle this problem. However, the temporal mismatch of intermittent electricity generation (e.g. from wind power or photovoltaics) and load requires an increase in flexibility of the future energy system, for example provided by storage, dispatchable generation, or demand response. We quantify the potential contribution of an enhanced coupling between the electricity and heating sectors to balance intermittent renewable power generation in highly renewable energy scenarios for the U.S., focusing on the New England region (ISONE). For this purpose, a multi–sectoral approach is applied, combining the scenario construction methodology of the Stanford University with the cost optimizing capacity expansion and dispatch model REMix (Renewable Energy Mix). A particular focus lies on the flexible operation of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants and electric heat pumps (HP) enabled by thermal energy storage. Moreover, we evaluate the interaction and competition with alternative flexibility options, including power transmission, electric energy storage and controlled charging of battery electric vehicles (BEV).

Dieser Beitrag bietet Einblick in die Entwicklung und Anwendung einer Methodik zur Ermittlung von normativen Energieversorgungsszenarien. Im Fokus steht dabei eine sektorenübergreifende Betrachtung von Transformationspfaden hin zu einer überwiegend oder vollständig auf erneuerbaren Quellen basierenden Energieversorgung. Durch Anwendung des zeitlich und räumlich hoch aufgelösten Energiesystemmodells REMix wird der kostenminimale Kraftwerkspark, sowie der Bedarf an Speichern und Netzen im Zieljahr 2050 ermittelt, und die Wechselwirkung verschiedener Technologien und Sektoren analysiert. Die REMix-Ergebnisse bilden die Grundlage für die Ableitung eines Transformationspfades mit dem Simulationsmodell MESAP-PlaNet. Die so erweiterte Methodik wird hier in zwei Fallstudien für die Kanarischen Inseln und Brasilien angewendet.

Der Bericht präsentiert ein neues Energy [R]evolution Szenario für Energiebedarf und-bereitstellung für die Kanarischen Inseln. Untersucht wurde ein Szenario für eine vollständig erneuerbare Versorgung des lokalen Stromverbrauchs. Speziell betrachtet wurde der Stromsektor für die Canary Islands, insbesondere Speicher und Netze, die für jede einzelne Insel betrachtet wurden. Unter unterschiedlichem Speicher- und Netzausbau wurde ein kostenoptimaler Mix erneuerbarer Energieanlagen ermittelt.

Solar photovoltaic and wind power are increasingly contributing to electricity supply in Europe and worldwide. Due to their intermittent nature, questions of balancing power demand, system stability and the interconnection of electricity, heat and transport sector have become a major focus of energy system research. The bottom-up energy system model REMix (Renewable Energy Mix) has been developed with the aim of providing a powerful tool for the development and assessment of future supply scenarios in high spatial and temporal resolution.