Assessing a Transition to 100% Renewable Power Generation in a Non-interconnected Area: A Case Study for La R ́Eunion Island

Abstract

In this paper, we present a global and multi-timescale approach for assessing energy tran- sition policies aiming at fully renewable generation in power systems of non-interconnected areas, typically islands or isolated regions. The approach links together three dynamic mod- els:(i) a capacity expansion model, ETEM-SG, proposes an investment and production plan for typical days, at the horizon 2030; (ii) a simplified dispatch model is used to validate the production plan for a full year data of weather and demand variations and; (iii) a static & dynamic power system analysis is used to assess the stability of the new power network for fast occurring events like, e.g., a sudden reduction of renewable production. The proposed three-stage approach generates a least-cost long-term investment planning that ensures a supply-demand balance at an hourly time-step and power network statibility at a few mil- lisecond time scale. The presentaion is based on a case study fully described in a report [1] made with ADEME, the French Agency for ecological transition, for the French island La R ́eunion. It shows how a reliable 100% renewable power supply is reachable by 2030, in this area.