drive down electricity spot market prices, but a smart energy system with deferrable loads across heating, cooling, and transportation can mitigate this effect. Conclusion: Considering energy storage is essential for integrating renewable energy, both in the existing system and in a future 100% renewable supply. A narrow focus on electricity storage leads to adopting the most expensive storage form. Instead, leveraging thermal and fuel storage technologies offers a more cost-effective and efficient strategy for integrating renewable energy. A cross-sector smart energy systems approach identifies superior storage options and conversion technologies, minimizing reliance on electricity storage. Exploring alternative storage types for extensive renewable electricity integration provides better system balancing and flexibility at lower costs. While electricity storage remains necessary for other purposes, it should not be prioritized for reintegrating electricity back into the grid.
storage as gas or liquid fuels. A smart energy systems approach is essential for designing cost-effective and efficient renewable energy systems. Smart Heating and Cooling: While future heat demand will decrease, eliminating the need for space heating entirely is technically challenging. Therefore, a cost-effective solution involves balancing energy conservation with renewable energy supply, considering both individual and communal systems like district heating. Studies have shown that combining heat savings with district heating in urban areas and individual heat pumps in rural areas is the least-cost approach. District heating allows for waste heat from electricity production and industry, which can replace a significant share of natural gas and oil. Integrating wind and other fluctuating renewable electricity sources with large-scale heat pumps and thermal storage will be crucial. Power-to-heat technology provides virtual electricity storage, offering a cost- effective way to store renewable electricity as thermal energy, efficiently meeting heating and cooling needs. Smart Biomass and Transportation: Electrifying the transport sector is practical for balancing electricity system production and demand, but not all transportation demands can be met by direct electricity use. Long-distance transport, marine, and aviation will rely on gaseous and liquid fuels from renewable resources. Electrofuels provide flexibility by storing renewable electricity as gas or liquid fuels, enabling the integration of fluctuating renewable resources. This approach allows for deferrable loads and addresses the dispatch issues associated with renewable energy storage. The Overall System: Comprehensive analyses of regional, national, and European energy transitions using a smart energy systems approach have demonstrated the feasibility of 100% renewable energy systems. These systems balance renewable energy production and demand hourly through thermal, gaseous, and liquid fuel storage. A smart energy system enhances the economic viability of renewable energy by increasing the value of fluctuating power generation. Wind power, for instance, can
For further information please contact: Toke Kjær Christensen, tkchr@plan.aau.dk
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