The optimal share of wave power in a highly renewable power system on the Iberian Peninsula

Alexander Kies,Lueder Von Bremen,Bruno U Schyska

doi:10.1016/j.egyr.2016.09.002

Alexander Kies, Lueder Von Bremen + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2016.09.002

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Journal: Energy Reports	Publication Date: Oct 2, 2016
Citations: 20	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

Abstract

In a highly renewable future pan-European power system, wave power might complement the renewable generation mix in a beneficial way. The potential of wave energy is estimated to be highest at Western European coastlines. Thus, the Iberian Peninsula is characterized by high wind, photovoltaic and wave resources. Five years of data on generation and load were used to identify the optimal share of wave power in a fully renewable power system on the Iberian Peninsula. This optimal share is defined by the minimization of needed backup energy from dispatchable sources in the system. First, the properties of the mix are investigated for the case of an isolated Iberian power system. Second, the mix is investigated when the Iberian Peninsula is connected to a fully renewable pan-European power system. The optimal share of wave power on the isolated Iberian Peninsula with respect to the need for additional backup is found to be 25% (wind 52%, photovoltaics 23%). This optimum does not change significantly, if hydro power is added to the generation mix. If compared to a system without wave power, the benefit from wave power equals an reduction of 6–8% of the backup energy need. For a fully connected European power system, the optimal mix on the Iberian Peninsula is determined to be 21% wave, 4% PV and 75% wind.

Highlights

An enormous amount of energy is carried by ocean waves
The case of an isolated Iberian Peninsula is investigated and the optimal mix of generation determined. This scenario is justified if the intercountry transmission grid of today is not strongly reinforced by the time high shares of renewables in the power mix are reached
To find the optimum the backup energy need is computed for different mixes of generation from different sources of renewables, j ∈ (W, S, O) and n being the Iberian Peninsula: Bn(t) = Bn(β, t), (25)

Summary

Introduction

An enormous amount of energy is carried by ocean waves. No significant shares of the European power mix are contributed from oceanic energy (wave and tidal) today. Studies suggest that by 2050 oceanic sources might contribute a few percent to the European generation mix (Pfluger et al, 2011). The background is the European energy transition, which includes an increasing share of energy from renewable sources (Eurostat, 2015). Major reasons behind the worldwide observed shift from conventional controllable generation to renewable intermittent generation from sources like wind or photovoltaics (PV) are decarbonization and sustainability (Roadmap, 2010)

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