Cost minimization for fully renewable electricity systems: A Mauritius case study

Timmons, David; Dhunny, A.Z.; Elahee, Khalil; Havumaki, B.; Howells, Mark; Khoodaruth, Abdel; Lema-Driscoll, A. K.; Lollchund, Michel Roddy; Ramgolam, Yatindra Kumar; Rughooputh, S. D. D. V.; Surroop, Dinesh

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110895

Cited by 31 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…An electricity mix largely based on renewables can be economically advantageous for those energy systems with no connection to national power grids and with overcosts for fossil fuel supply. Compared to the study of Mauritius energy system by Timmons et al [28], a similar share of fossil fuel power generation is obtained in the least cost scenario, around 21 to 22%. In addition, in the Mauritius case study-for which technology costs were kept constant along all model period-researchers have identified an additional 11% share from locally produced sugarcane bagasse and no electrochemical storage systems were included.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

“…Fuso Nerini et al [27] implemented an OSeMOSYS model of a village in Southeast Asia to explore different tiers of energy access and electrification, highlighting the high costs related to the most ambitious goals and suggesting the grid connection as a viable option over a certain level of electricity access. Timmons et al [28] applied OSeMOSYS to study the cost-effectiveness of different high Renewable Energy Sources (RES) penetration scenarios in the island country Mauritius, identified the 80% RES scenario as the least-cost, and suggested the establishment of a new bagassebioethanol-solar-wind renewable energy industry. In addition, Riva et al [29] linked an OSeMOSYS-based optimization model with an energy consumption projection model based on socioeconomic indicators and a stochastic load profile generator for an application in rural India: researchers pointed out the importance of such an integrated approach for rural developing areas, where energy demand is expected to have a considerable increase.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supporting Decarbonization Strategies of Local Energy Systems by De-Risking Investments in Renewables: A Case Study on Pantelleria Island

et al. 2022

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Nowadays, energy policymakers are asked to develop strategies to ensure an affordable clean energy supply as well as minimizing investment risks. In addition, the rise of several community engagement schemes and the uptake of user-scale technologies introduce uncertainties that may result in a disruptive factor for energy systems evolution. This paper introduces a novel scenario analysis approach for local energy planning that supports policymakers and investors in prioritizing new renewable power plant investments, addressing the risks deriving from citizens’ choices. Specifically, a combined analysis is performed on the adoption trends of distributed photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles that are expected to heavily influence the evolution of energy systems. For this reason, an energy model is developed for Pantelleria island, and its transition from an oil-based energy supply to a renewable one up to 2050 is investigated. It is demonstrated how optimal-cost renewable-based scenarios can assure a 45% to 52% CO2 emissions reduction and a 6% to 15% overall cost reduction with respect to the diesel-based business-as-usual scenario. The analyzed scenarios disclose the recommended investments in each renewable technology, considering their learning curves and the unpredictability of user-scale technology adoption. Consequently, priorities in the installation of renewable power plants are stressed, starting with the most resilient to future uncertainties, as well as promoting specific incentive measures for citizens’ commitment at a local scale.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supporting Decarbonization Strategies of Local Energy Systems by De-Risking Investments in Renewables: A Case Study on Pantelleria Island

et al. 2022

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“…Konstantin Löffler et al [22] developed a Global Energy System Model (GENeSYS-MOD), which they applied on a global scale, divided into 10 regions, to analyze decarbonization scenarios up to 2050. On the other hand, D. Timmons et al [23] used OSeMOSYS to find the minimum cost renewable energy mix on the island of Mauritius, while Constantinos Taliotis et al [24] utilized OSeMOSYS to assess the impact of electric vehicle deployment on renewable electricity generation on the island of Cyprus. Moreover, Novo et al [25] used OSeMOSYS to explore a decarbonization path of Pantelleria Island by 2050, investigating different adoption trends of distributed photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles in the local population.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Energy Cost Assessment of Future Energy Scenarios: A Case Study on San Pietro Island

et al. 2022

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The need for a clean and affordable energy supply is a major challenge of the current century. The tough shift toward a sustainable energy mix becomes even more problematic when facing realities that lack infrastructures and financing, such as small islands. Energy modeling and planning is crucial at this early stage of the ecological transition. For this reason, this article aims to improve an established long-run energy model framework, known as “OSeMOSYS,” with an add-on tool able to estimate different types of Levelized Cost Of Electricity (LCOE): a real and theoretical LCOE of each technology and a real and theoretical system LCOE. This tool fills a gap in most modeling frameworks characterized by a lack of information when evaluating energy costs and aims at guiding policymakers to the most appropriate solution. The model is then used to predict future energy scenarios for the island of San Pietro, in Sardinia, which was chosen as a case study. Four energy scenarios with a time horizon from 2020 to 2050—the Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario, the Current Policy Projection (CPP) scenario, the Sustainable Growth (SG) scenario, and the Self-Sufficient-Renewable (SSR) scenario—are explored and ranked according to the efforts made in them to achieve an energy transition. Results demonstrates the validity of the tool, showing that, in the long run, the average LCOE of the system benefits from the installation of RES plants, passing from 49.1 €/MWh in 2050 in the BAU scenario to 48.8 €/MWh in the ambitious SG scenario. On the other hand, achieving carbon neutrality and the island’s energy independence brings the LCOE to 531.5 €/MWh, questioning the convenience of large storage infrastructures in San Pietro and opening up future work on the exploration of different storage systems.

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“…However, in Africa, only South Africa and Morocco have made use of this technology to date [56,57] and current policy plans do not suggest that this is about to change, despite available potential [58]. In particular, pumped-storage hydropower may hold promise for small island states which cannot benefit from regional interconnections, such as Cabo Verde [59] and Mauritius [60], which both have pronounced orography (permitting high-head pumped-storage schemes) and high solar PV and wind power potential.…”

Section: Storage-driven Flexibilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Grid for all Seasons: Enhancing the Integration of Variable Solar and Wind Power in Electricity Systems Across Africa

Sterl

2021

Curr Sustainable Renewable Energy Rep

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Purpose of review This review paper assesses recent scientific findings around the integration of variable renewable electricity (VRE) sources, mostly solar PV and wind power, on power grids across Africa, in the context of expanding electricity access while ensuring low costs and reducing fossil fuel emissions. Recent findings In this context, significant research attention has been given to increased cross-border transmission infrastructure between African countries to harness the spatiotemporal complementarities between renewable electricity resources, as well as to storage options, such as battery storage and power-to-gas. Summary Much of the recent, model-based literature suggests that a combination of increased interconnections in and between Africa’s power pools, leveraging spatiotemporal complementarities between solar PV, wind and hydropower, as well as a large-scale deployment of storage options could help African countries meet their burgeoning power demand with largely decarbonized electricity supply.

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Cost minimization for fully renewable electricity systems: A Mauritius case study

Cited by 31 publications

References 35 publications

Supporting Decarbonization Strategies of Local Energy Systems by De-Risking Investments in Renewables: A Case Study on Pantelleria Island

Supporting Decarbonization Strategies of Local Energy Systems by De-Risking Investments in Renewables: A Case Study on Pantelleria Island

An Energy Cost Assessment of Future Energy Scenarios: A Case Study on San Pietro Island

A Grid for all Seasons: Enhancing the Integration of Variable Solar and Wind Power in Electricity Systems Across Africa

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