Influence of bioenergy and transmission expansion on electrical energy storage requirements in a gradually decarbonized European power system

Abstract

With the ongoing energy transition in Europe, the share of variable renewable energies (VRE) in the power system increases steadily and different flexibility options gain importance. This work investigates the deployment of supply side flexibility options in the future European power system by energy system modelling focusing on classic power storage technologies, hydrogen storage, generation by biomass and grid expansion. While investigating different flexibility availability scenarios, for the first time the competition of long-term flexibility options is investigated across a broad decarbonization spectrum. In all scenarios, an increasing need for additional flexibility options is found for moderate decarbonization levels with VRE shares higher than 50%. From there on, the deployment of power storages grows nonlinearly, and eventually features a remarkable leap when approaching a zero-emission system, which is mainly driven by hydrogen storage investments. This also comes along with a leap in the total system costs. When the expansion of biomass capacities is available, biomass partly takes over the function of hydrogen as a long-term flexibility option. When enabling grid expansion, additional transmission capacities lead to a stronger integration of wind generation, while (especially short-term) storage requirements for higher decarbonization levels decrease. Both the additional investments into biomass generation and transmission grid result in up to 4% lower total system costs, yet, without completely displacing any other flexibility option. We conclude that the interaction of multiply flexibility options will lead to a cost minimal power system.