Chapter 5 - Analysis: Large-Scale Integration of Renewable Energy

Abstract

This chapter examines and deduces the essence from a series of studies in which the Energy PLAN model has been applied to the analysis of large-scale integration of renewable energy sources (RES) into the Danish energy system. The Danish energy system has a high share of renewable energy and is therefore suitable for the analysis of further large-scale integration. The studies conducted address the integration of RES into future energy systems. The analyses are based on official projections of the Danish energy system made by the Danish Energy Authority in 2001. The chapter presents a method for comparing different energy systems in terms of their ability to integrate RES on a large scale. The discipline of analyzing large-scale integration of renewable energy into existing systems addresses the challenge of re-designing the systems based on the characteristics of the fluctuating renewable sources. The analyses show that in the design of systems suitable for large-scale integration of RES, one should distinguish between two different issues. The first issue is concerned with annual amounts of energy—that is, on an annual basis, the supply of each of the amounts of electricity, heating, and fuel must meet the corresponding demands. The other issue is concerned with time—that the supply of the same amounts of energy must meet the timely duration of the corresponding demands.