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Variable renewable energy (VRE) resources increasingly add fluctuations to power systems. The required types and capacities of balancing measures, amounts of curtailment, and costs associated with system integration need to be assessed for advising policy makers and economic actors. Previous studies mostly exclude storage from model-endogenous capacity expansion and omit concentrated solar power (CSP) completely. In this study, we stress the need for grid and backup capacity by investigating an integrated market in Europe, allowing for additional short-term as well as long-term storage and considering CSP as a dispatchable backup option. The Renewable Energy Mix (REMix) energy system model is introduced and applied to assess the capacity expansion and hourly dispatch at various levels of photovoltaic and wind power penetration. The model results demonstrate combinations of spatial and temporal balancing measures that enable net photovoltaic and wind supply shares of 60% and 70% of the annual demand, respectively. The usage of storage and grid can keep curtailments below 20% of the demand for theoretical VRE shares of up to 100%. Furthermore, we determine that the VRE supply structure has a strong impact on the least-cost allocation of power plants across Europe but only a limited effect on supply costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first comprehensive estimate of the final energy demand for heat in all EU28 member states for the reference year 2012, differentiated by temperature levels, comparing two different approaches. Two different calculation approaches based on different data sets yielded estimates of the total final energy demand for heat in the EU28 of 8150 PJ and 8518 PJ in 2012, respectively. Approach 1 distinguishes between three different process heat (PH) temperature levels and results in final energy demand for heat <100°C: 2077 PJ, 100-400°C: 2214 PJ and >400°C: 3859 PJ. The second approach distinguishes between low temperature space heat and hot water (<100°C: 1161 PJ) and four different PH temperature levels with a resulting energy demand of <100°C: 1027 PJ, 100-500°C: 1785 PJ, 500-1000°C: 1679 PJ and >1000°C: 2865 PJ. The high share of high-temperature heat illustrates the limits to the potential decarbonisation of industrial thermal processes with renewable energy sources such as (non-concentrating) solar thermal, geothermal or environmental heat. Therefore specific information on required temperature levels is of the essence. This, in turn, points out the relevance of renewable electricity and synthetic fuels based on renewable power for a significant reduction of CO2 emissions from the industry sector in Europe. Considering current data quality, it is recommended to develop a consistent, comprehensive methodology to significantly improve the data basis on industrial heat demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: DR (Demand response) measures typically aim at an improved utilization of power plant and grid capacities. In energy systems mainly relying on photovoltaic and wind power, DR may furthermore contribute to system stability and increase the renewable energy share. In this paper, an assessment of the theoretical DR potential in Europe is presented. Special attention is given to temporal availability and geographic distribution of flexible loads. Based on industrial production and electricity consumption statistics, as well as periodic and temperature-dependent load profiles, possible load reduction and increase is estimated for each hour of the year. The analysis identifies substantial DR potentials in all consumer sectors. They add up to a minimum load reduction of 61 GW and a minimum load increase of 68 GW, available in every hour of the year. The overall potential features significant variations during the year, which are characteristic for specific consumers and countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As the share of variable renewable energies in the power system increases, so does the need for flexibility options. These include, inter alia, energy storage, network optimization and expansion, and demand side management. In this paper, a broad sensitivity analysis is carried out to assess the potential role of innovative electrical energy storage technologies in comparison to well-established ones. The innovative technologies considered include compressed heat energy storage, adiabatic compressed air energy storage, power-to-heat-to-power storage, and reversible solid oxide fuel cells storage. To this aim, the cost-optimizing energy system model REMix has been applied to analyze the impact of main techno-economic parameters of electrical energy storages on their role in the future European power supply system. Two main studies have been calculated. The first one deals with a cost sensitivity analysis on a generic storage technology. Among the main findings is that – beside cost – the ratio between photovoltaics and wind power potentials in a particular region have a relevant impact on the capacity as well as on the energy to power ratio of the installed storages. In addition, a strong competition has been observed between energy storages and gas turbines. The second scenario evaluates the competition between well-established and innovative energy storage technologies. The results show that while some of the regions – namely southern Europe, alpine regions and Scandinavia – mainly rely on pumped hydro storage, in most of Central European regions and United Kingdom the cost optimal solution consists of a mix of pumped hydro storage (totaling 64.2 TWh/y of discharged energy in Europe), hydrogen underground storage (45.1 TWh/y) and batteries (27.1 TWh/y), with an additional small share of power-to-heat-to-power storages (0.1 TWh/y). In line with earlier studies, hydrogen storage is found mostly in regions with high wind power supply, while the distribution of batteries is more spread overall in Europe. The model results underline the high sensitivity of the economic efficiency of storage facilities to the investment costs and their components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]