Spatial distribution of renewables in optimization models for climate-neutral energy systems considering non-technical aspects

authored by

Clemens Lohr

supervised by

Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach

Abstract

The variability of renewable energy transforms the dynamics of global energy systems, necessitating new approaches to balance supply and demand. Detailed techno-economic energy system optimization models, designed to capture the complex spatio-temporal variability of renewables and technological interplay, have become indispensable tools for understanding renewable energy systems. However, the outcomes of these models often exhibit a spatial concentration of renewables, an effect akin to copper-plate-based market designs, neglecting feed-in locations and grid bottlenecks. This concentration is associated with low acceptance and contrasts with existing expansions and political goals. This thesis focuses on the spatial distribution of renewable energy within these models, specifically exploring the effect of spatial concentration and introducing novel methods to enhance siting decisions. Spatial concentration occurs when renewable energy potential surplus aligns with high transmission capacity. The linear formulation of these models results in a strict order of installation, fostering the penny-switching effect. Although increasing the technical detail by accounting for intra-regional energy yield differences mitigates extreme renewable distributions, it fails to prevent them. Conversely, an extended scope considering non-technical differences, particularly the heterogeneous impact on land area, fosters incentives for partial and diverse capacity utilization. Consequently, a modeling approach that accounts for the regional heterogeneity of onshore wind power potential proves effective in a climate-neutral Germany scenario. Considering key objectives of the energy supply, this approach offers a balance between slightly increased system costs and significantly reduced environmental impact, coupled with a fairer division of land area consumption compared to alternative distribution strategies. Incorporating two socioeconomic aspects, disamenity costs and equality, validates this observation. Disamenity costs emerge as a predominant factor influencing the distribution of onshore wind power, with a moderate increase in system costs. This also holds for two approaches allowing the modulation of the degree of equality in the spatial distribution. The low trade-offs suggest that integrating these aspects leads to socially superior energy system designs, with reduced externalities that overcompensate for additional costs. The implementations of disamenity costs and equality are effective, accurate, and show similar performances to cost-optimal models. In essence, energy system models have historically prioritized easily quantifiable techno-economic interdependencies, overlooking the external effects of renewable energy distribution. Drawing from the insights of this thesis, the incorporation of non-technical aspects enhances the renewable distribution in models and, hence, their significance as tools. However, achieving this requires transcending existing disciplinary boundaries and diminishing the influence of the typical techno-economic rationale in these models.

Organisation(s)

Section Electrical Energy Storage Systems

Type

Doctoral thesis

No. of pages

115

Publication date

13.11.2024

Publication status

Published

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities, SDG 13 - Climate Action

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.15488/18119 (Access: Open)