Getting to Zero Carbon Emissions in the Electric Power Sector

Jenkins, Jesse D.; Luke, Max; Thernstrom, Samuel

doi:10.1016/j.joule.2018.11.013

Cited by 200 publications

(149 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(14 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

136

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…With a goal to reduce economic damages from future climate change ( Davis et al., 2018 ; Electric Power Research Institute EPRI, 2018 ; Hoffert et al., 2002 ; Jacobson et al., 2015 ; Mai et al., 2018 ; Matthews and Caldeira, 2008 ; Wei et al., 2013 ), energy experts, regulators, policymakers, and the public are increasingly interested in, and often advocate for, electricity systems that rely primarily, if not exclusively, on variable renewable electricity (VRE; wind and solar photovoltaics) generation ( Clack et al., 2017 ; Davis et al., 2018 ; de Sisternes et al., 2016 ; Denholm and Hand, 2011 ; Elliott, 2016 ; Gielen et al., 2019 ; Gilbraith et al., 2013 ; International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2017 ; Jacobson et al., 2015 ; Jenkins et al., 2018 ; Luderer et al., 2017 , 2014 ; MacDonald et al., 2016 ; Mai et al., 2014 ; Mileva et al., 2016 ; Safaei and Keith, 2015 ; Sepulveda et al., 2018 ; Shaner et al., 2018 ; World Bank, 2019 ). Although many have argued that a broader portfolio of electricity generation technologies would more easily satisfy cost and performance requirements ( Clack et al., 2017 ; Davis et al., 2018 ; Gilbraith et al., 2013 ; Hoffert et al., 2002 ; MacDonald et al., 2016 ; Sepulveda et al., 2018 ), considerable interest remains in systems that rely primarily on VRE technologies for electricity generation ( de Sisternes et al., 2016 ; Denholm and Hand, 2011 ; Frew et al., 2016 ; Jacobson et al., 2015 ; Safaei and Keith, 2015 ; Shaner et al., 2018 ; Ziegler et al., 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(2016) showed that up to 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions could be achieved in an idealized electricity system that comprises substantial deployment of VRE capacity backed up by generators powered by natural gas, in conjunction with an expanded transmission network over the contiguous United States (CONUS). Detailed power system models and energy system models either explicitly model several flexibility mechanisms (which may or may not include energy storage) to ensure resource adequacy and reliability, or they simply assume resource adequacy is not an issue ( Clack et al., 2017 ; Gilbraith et al., 2013 ; Jacobson et al., 2015 ; Jenkins et al., 2018 ; Sepulveda et al., 2018 ). As a result, grid-scale energy storage generally does not provide a significant role in such complex electricity grid systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effects of Deep Reductions in Energy Storage Costs on Highly Reliable Wind and Solar Electricity Systems

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary We use 36 years (1980–2015) of hourly weather data over the contiguous United States (CONUS) to assess the impact of low-cost energy storage on highly reliable electricity systems that use only variable renewable energy (VRE; wind and solar photovoltaics). Even assuming perfect transmission of wind and solar generation aggregated over CONUS, energy storage costs would need to decrease several hundred-fold from current costs (to ∼$1/kWh) in fully VRE electricity systems to yield highly reliable electricity without extensive curtailment of VRE generation. The role of energy storage changes from high-cost storage competing with curtailment to fill short-term gaps between VRE generation and hourly demand to near-free storage serving as seasonal storage for VRE resources. Energy storage faces “double penalties” in VRE/storage systems: with increasing capacity, (1) the additional storage is used less frequently and (2) hourly electricity costs would become less volatile, thus reducing price arbitrage opportunities for the additional storage.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Deep Reductions in Energy Storage Costs on Highly Reliable Wind and Solar Electricity Systems

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, it should be noted that the use of natural gas to reduce PV curtailment may be incompatible with clean energy mandates or objectives. Hence, even if natural gas-based flexibility could reduce PV curtailment, achieving high renewable energy targets may require accepting higher levels of curtailment or relying on other grid flexibility measures ( Jenkins et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Available Measures To Address Increasing Curtailmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Too much of a good thing? Global trends in the curtailment of solar PV

O’Shaughnessy

Cruce

2020

Solar Energy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Highlights In 2018, more than 1% of potential PV output was curtailed in several key markets. Curtailment is driven by PV location, transmission limits, and oversupply. Curtailment follows seasonal patterns and is influenced by policy and grid planning. Grid flexibility, storage, demand response, and regional coordination reduce losses. Optimal rather than minimal curtailment is more efficient for future grid contexts.

show abstract

“…The utility BC Hydro has identified large potential of variable renewable energy sources to supply additional energy in British Columbia (BC Hydro, 2013a). Unfortunately, high penetration of variable renewable electricity generation requires significant system flexibility, such as electricity storage or demand side management (Jenkins et al, 2018;Kondziella and Bruckner, 2016). These flexibility requirements can increase system costs.…”

Section: Geothermal Energy Potential In British Columbiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentary basin geothermal favourability mapping and power generation assessments

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mitigating climate change requires elimination of fossil fuel related greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning electricity generation to low-carbon sources and substituting fossil fuels with electricity in non-electric sectors is considered to be a key strategy. This dissertation investigates resource options to and land area impacts of decarbonizing electricity generation and electrifying adjacent sectors. Three studies analyze transition options in the western Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The first study investigates technology transition pathways and land area impacts of reducing electricity generation related carbon emissions in fossil fuel-dominated Alberta. A final 70% share of wind, solar, and hydro power reduces emissions by 90% between 2015 and 2060. This scenario requires designating 5% additional land area to electricity generation annually. Land is largely designated to the required space between wind turbines, with smaller areas attributed to ground-mounted solar and hydro power. System planners can reduce the land area impacts by deploying more compact geothermal, rooftop solar and natural gas with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies. These technology compositions can hold land area impacts constant in time if depleted natural gas and CCS infrastructure is expediently reclaimed, but total net present system costs increase by 11% over the 45-year period. Without reclamation, fuel extraction and carbon sequestration increase land area impacts at least fourfold within this time period. The second study investigates sedimentary basin geothermal resources in northeastern British Columbia. Geothermal energy is a potentially low-cost, low-carbon, dispatchable resource for electricity generation with a relatively small land area impact. A two-step method first geospatially overlays economic and geological criteria to highlight areas favourable to geothermal development. Next, the Volume Method applies petroleum exploration and production data in Monte Carlo probability simulations to estimate electricity generation potential at the four areas with highest favourability (Clarke Lake, Jedney, Horn River, and Prophet River). The total power generation potential of all four areas is determined to be 107 MW. Volume normalized reservoir potentials range from 1.8 xvi Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Richard and Dagmar Palmer-Wilson, and to my grandparents, Gerhard and Ilka Radke. The weight of this work calmly rests on their unending love, support, patience and wisdom. "Wenn die Kinder jung sind, gib ihnen tiefe Wurzeln. Danach gib ihnen Flügel." Table 1-1 Attribution of contributions to chapters 3 to 5 Contributor Contributions Ch.

show abstract

Getting to Zero Carbon Emissions in the Electric Power Sector

Cited by 200 publications

References 13 publications

Effects of Deep Reductions in Energy Storage Costs on Highly Reliable Wind and Solar Electricity Systems

Effects of Deep Reductions in Energy Storage Costs on Highly Reliable Wind and Solar Electricity Systems

Too much of a good thing? Global trends in the curtailment of solar PV

Sedimentary basin geothermal favourability mapping and power generation assessments

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About