Nuclear Fusion impact on the requirements of power infrastructure assets in a decarbonized electricity system

Abstract

Electrification of final energy use and electricity generation by low-carbon technologies are key points of the path toward carbon-neutrality. Carbon free electricity can be generated by both nuclear and renewable energy sources. Nevertheless, although all of them can be economically viable in terms of ‘Levelized Cost Of Energy‘, their exploitation involve variable renewables, so as to require power system upgrades with adequate energy storage systems, dispatchable generation capacity and transmission/distribution grid enhancements (power infrastructure assets) that may lead to relevant additional system costs. To this respect, each power system is almost unique, due to its peculiarities as far as renewable potentials is concerned. In order to find the least cost feasible and reliable generation mix, detailed hourly simulations are necessary. In this paper, long term power generation scenarios will be simulated with the COMESE code, a dispatch model able to perform detailed regional power systems analysis. Carbon-free Italian power system long term scenarios are simulated, with high share of photovoltaic and to less extent wind electricity together with a possible contribution of nuclear fusion power plants. The operation of the transmission grid is simulated, through a transport model, in order to assess the necessary grid enhancement and to estimate the related costs. In this context the impact of fusion will be assessed in terms of mitigation of the overall system cost of electricity.