To tackle the variability of renewable energy for a stable supply, 22 different types of flexibility options are found in research articles of 100% renewable energy systems, categorized in power-to-x, energy storage, demand response, transmission and distribution networks and limitation.
New research by Lut UniversityFinland, presents the role of flexibility options in research of highly renewable energy systems. A database of 1067 scientific articles was used for the analyzes. The publication is entitled “Rol and trends of flexibility options in 100% renewable energy system analyzes to the Power-to-X EconomyAnd published in Reviews for sustainable and sustainable energy.
22 Flexibility options have been identified in the Literature of 100% renewable energy systems About five groups: Power-to-X (PTX), energy storage, demand response, transmission and distribution networks and limitation. The groups with the most diverse flexibility options are PTX and energy storage.
PTX processes serve as the technological solution for sector coupling as the central element of the Power-to-x-economy. The PTX concept includes processes that use electricity in various sectors, such as heating, electromobility, industry and the production of electricity-based fuels (e-fuels), but also e-chemicals and e-materials. PTX processes can use electricity from any electricity source, but the use of non-renewable energy goes against the main goal of saving costs and leaving fossil fuels.
In order to manage the variability in renewable electricity generation and to maintain a balance between energy supply and demand, additional measures such as energy storage in various forms, transmission and distribution networks and curtailment are used in addition to PTX. 1067 Scientific articles for assessment of 100% renewable energy system studies for specific regions were analyzed to identify the rise, growth and trends of each flexibility option. The analyzed database for research of 100% renewable energy system has been developed at Lut over the years Previously published with 550 articles for bibliometric analyzes.
Of the 1067 identified items, 1008 (94.5%) included at least one of the five fundamental flexibility options. The distribution of the diversity of the flexibility option showed that 75% of the articles included at least two options, 47% included three, 20% included four, and only 4.3% included all five categories of flexibility options. Between 1975 and the beginning of the years 2010, PTX technologies attracted relatively little attention in 100% renewable energy systems research. However, since 2014 an important shift in research trends has emerged, with an increasing focus on integrating various forms of PTX technologies. Storage types appeared from 2009 in a growing variety of 100% renewable energy.
The transmission and distribution set has received more attention, especially because his role in the research of 100% renewable energy systems has grown over the past two decades. Begnip and demand response have also been studied since about the same time, with a grip in a limitation in 2010 and in 2009 the demand response, both of which appear at comparable speeds.
E-hydrogen stands out as the most used e-fuel under the various PTX technologies, followed by e-methane. Direct air cabbage collection and use (Daccu) appears eight times more than direct air cabbage fabric replacement and cladding (DACCs) in PTX routes. This suggests that studies prioritize using CO2 For end products instead of for sexwestration. Research of 100% renewable energy systems Priority gives priority to the energy sector, followed by the heat, transport, industry and the carbon dioxide sectors sectors.
When comparing energy storage technologies, batteries are most extensively discussed and appear in around 60% of all studies. Batteries are not only the most frequently mentioned solution for energy storage, but also stand out among all flexibility options. Stationary batteries are increasingly being supplemented with storage of vehicle-to-grid, which points to intensified research into the linking of electricity and transport sectors. Batteries are fast when charging and discharging, which is why they can quickly be in balance between solar energy fluctuations. This very high penetration of batteries in studies makes further PV disaster on solar energy possible. Unlike other storage options, they do not need an additional infrastructure, such as pumped Hydro energy storage. Batteries also work on smaller scales, making them easy to add to houses and grilles. Moreover, they become cheaper at high rates and more efficient, which stimulates the acceptance of solar PV practically everywhere.
After batteries, e-hydrogen is the second most used energy storage technology, closely followed by pumped hydro energy storage. Thermal energy storage is used as a valuable storage for heat, but also to link the power and the heat sectors. Since the beginning of the years 2010, E-Methane storage has supplemented the storage of e-hydrogen for a broader diversity of gas balancing options.
Quantitative assessment of individual articles about different flexibility options: PTX technologies (above), energy storage (bottom left) and demand response, electric grilles and limitation (bottom right). The values represent how many specific flexibility options have been used in the entire database. Image: Lut.
Europe performs considerably better than other regions in terms of flexibility options, since a larger number of studies choose Europe as a whole or specific European countries as case studies for their analyzes. On a global scale, the PTX route has proven to be the most used technology for e-hydrogen. E-methane is the most used in Eurasia. In the middle East, the desalination of seawater inverted osmosis (SWRO) is a commonly used technology, which is used in the same frequency as Daccu. The results show that batteries have most of the energy storage in all regions.
In terms of sector, the energy sector is the only one that absorbs all forms of flexibility options because of the crucial role in managing high variability and balancing renewable energy sources. Following the energy sector, the heat and industrial sectors get the most from different flexibility options. The heat sector benefits from almost all e-fuels, with heat pumps and electric heating, especially crucial roles.
Use of flexibility options in different energy sectors in the database. The values indicate the share of each flexibility option that is divided over the energy sectors. Image: Lut.
Flexibility is a central concept for achieving 100% renewable energy systems in terms of high efficiency, lower costs and low restrictions. Electricity comes to the fore as the central energy carrier that links the different energy sectors.
Authors: Siavash Khalili, Dominik Keiner and Christian Breyer
This article is part of a monthly column of Lut University.
Research into Lut University includes various analyzes with regard to strength, warmth, transport, desalination and negative CO2 Emission options. Power-to-X research is a core subject at the university, integrated into the focus areas of energy, air, water and company and society. Solar energy plays a key role in all research aspects.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author, and do not necessarily reflect it by PV -Magazine.
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