Role and value of flexibility in facilitating cost-effective energy system decarbonisation

Abstract

Decarbonisation of the electricity system requires significant and continued investment in low-carbon energy sources and electrification of the heat and transport sectors. With diminishing output and shorter operating hours of conventional large-scale fossil fuel generators, there is a growing need and opportunity for other emerging technologies to provide flexibility in the context of grid support, balancing, security services, and investment options to support a cost-effective transition to a lower-carbon energy system. This article summarises the key findings from a range of studies investigating the potential benefits and challenges associated with the future low-carbon energy system. The key challenges associated with balancing local, national and regional objectives to minimise the overall cost of decarbonising the future energy system are also discussed. Furthermore, the paper highlights the importance of cross-energy vector flexibility, and coordination across electricity, heat, and gas systems which is critical for shaping the future low-carbon energy systems. Although most of the case studies presented in this article are based on the UK, and to some extent the EU decarbonisation pathways, the overall conclusions regarding the value of flexibility are relevant for the global energy transition.

Design and Operation of Energy Systems with Large Amounts of Variable Generation: IEA Wind TCP Task 25 (Final Summary Report)

“…The amount of hydrogen that needs to be stored is calculated as a function of the number of weeks with low wind output -time series analysis for wind only in the Great Britain system. The range (min-max) of wind energy that needs to be compensated if such event (prolonged low wind output) occurs for 241 TWh/a wind is shown in Figure 82 (Strbac et al, 2018;Strbac et al, 2020).…”

“…In the United Kingdom, the system-level value of deploying flexibility across the heat, transport, industry, and power sectors across different decarbonization scenarios shows that the coordinated operation and planning of hydrogen, gas, transport, heat, and electrify infrastructures will become increasingly important to deliver a secure energy system while meeting the carbon targets at minimum costs. The value of flexibility to the energy system as a whole is many times its value to the electricity sector alone because it allows for interactions at all levels in an integrated system, between the energy vectors, and at the different timescales, from seconds to seasons, that are required to maintain a secure system (Strbac et al, 2020;.…”

Halfway to Zero: Progress towards a Carbon-Free Power Sector

“…• As weather-dependent, inverter-based resources including solar and wind progressively deploy, extensive attention to grid infrastructure and operations is required to ensure power system flexibility, reliability, resilience, stability, and security (DOE 2017a;2017b;Holttinen et al 2020;Frew et al 2019; National Academies 2021b). • Battery storage is likely to be a core response to these concerns in the near term, but many forms of flexibility can be leveraged-not only other forms of storage, but also load responsiveness and supply flexibility (Williams et al 2021;Jenkins, Luke, and Thernstrom 2018;Jacobson 2020;Gorman et al 2020;Strbac et al 2020). • Significant new transmission infrastructure (and more-efficient use of existing assets) may be needed to integrate growing shares of wind and solar; interconnection processes may need to be reformed (Williams et al 2021;Joskow 2020;Brown and Botterud 2020;MacDonald et al 2016;Bloom et al 2020;National Academies 2021b;ESIG 2021;Caspary et al 2021).…”

The role of flexibility in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: Contributing to a sustainable and resilient energy future in Europe

“…In this context, policy measures to counteract energy poverty should continuously be implemented – also in times of no crisis. Here, energy flexibility may help to lower the overall costs of operating a low-carbon energy system [ [86] , [87] , [88] ], where end consumers may directly benefit from reduced electricity prices. Countries must also ensure that currently drafted short-term recovery programmes for the economy do not risk achieved success concerning justice and SDGs.…”