IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v357y2024ics0306261923018111.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The role of energy storage in Great Britain's future power system: focus on hydrogen and biomass

Author

Listed:
  • Guerra, K.
  • Welfle, A.
  • Gutiérrez-Alvarez, R.
  • Freer, M.
  • Ma, L.
  • Haro, P.

Abstract

The increasing deployment of variable renewable energy (VRE) in the power sector, such as wind and solar photovoltaic, is expected to reduce emissions. However, VRE poses challenges due to their intermittency and variability. The Future Renewable Energy Performance into the Power System Model (FEPPS) is used to analyse VRE penetration in Great Britain's (GB) power system, resulting in VRE shares of around 65%, far from over 80% forecasted by 2030 and 2040 due to flexibility and stability constraints. The incorporation of new power generation and energy storage technologies is also analysed, including the role of biomass and hydrogen as low-carbon fuel options. Hydrogen is assumed to be produced from the curtailment of VRE and biomass. Between 6.57 and 283 Mt. of biomass would be required to balance bio‑hydrogen requirements by 2040; therefore, hydrogen production would depend on technology prioritisation. Power generation from hydrogen technologies (fuel cells and turbines) has a significant role in power system decarbonisation, with hydrogen turbines meeting up to ∼10% of annual electricity demand. In contrast, generation from batteries, adiabatic compressed air energy storage and natural gas turbines is not significant. Moreover, between 7.7 and 9.7 TWh of hydrogen storage would be needed, and there is substantial potential for salt cavern storage in GB, providing many 100s TWh. Finally, incorporating new generation and storage technologies relies on levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) reductions of 31% and 13% by 2030 and 2040, respectively, to keep the power sector on track towards decarbonisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Guerra, K. & Welfle, A. & Gutiérrez-Alvarez, R. & Freer, M. & Ma, L. & Haro, P., 2024. "The role of energy storage in Great Britain's future power system: focus on hydrogen and biomass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:357:y:2024:i:c:s0306261923018111
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.122447
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261923018111
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.122447?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pfenninger, Stefan & Keirstead, James, 2015. "Renewables, nuclear, or fossil fuels? Scenarios for Great Britain’s power system considering costs, emissions and energy security," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 83-93.
    2. Tielens, Pieter & Van Hertem, Dirk, 2016. "The relevance of inertia in power systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 999-1009.
    3. Yang, Yuqing & Bremner, Stephen & Menictas, Chris & Kay, Merlinde, 2022. "Modelling and optimal energy management for battery energy storage systems in renewable energy systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    4. Bistline, John E., 2017. "Economic and technical challenges of flexible operations under large-scale variable renewable deployment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 363-372.
    5. Blanco, Herib & Faaij, André, 2018. "A review at the role of storage in energy systems with a focus on Power to Gas and long-term storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 1049-1086.
    6. Després, Jacques & Hadjsaid, Nouredine & Criqui, Patrick & Noirot, Isabelle, 2015. "Modelling the impacts of variable renewable sources on the power sector: Reconsidering the typology of energy modelling tools," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 486-495.
    7. Price, James & Zeyringer, Marianne & Konadu, Dennis & Sobral Mourão, Zenaida & Moore, Andy & Sharp, Ed, 2018. "Low carbon electricity systems for Great Britain in 2050: An energy-land-water perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 928-941.
    8. Gabrielli, Paolo & Charbonnier, Flora & Guidolin, Annalisa & Mazzotti, Marco, 2020. "Enabling low-carbon hydrogen supply chains through use of biomass and carbon capture and storage: A Swiss case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    9. Mouli-Castillo, Julien & Heinemann, Niklas & Edlmann, Katriona, 2021. "Mapping geological hydrogen storage capacity and regional heating demands: An applied UK case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    10. Fattahi, A. & Sijm, J. & Faaij, A., 2020. "A systemic approach to analyze integrated energy system modeling tools: A review of national models," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    11. Pietzcker, Robert C. & Ueckerdt, Falko & Carrara, Samuel & de Boer, Harmen Sytze & Després, Jacques & Fujimori, Shinichiro & Johnson, Nils & Kitous, Alban & Scholz, Yvonne & Sullivan, Patrick & Ludere, 2017. "System integration of wind and solar power in integrated assessment models: A cross-model evaluation of new approaches," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 583-599.
    12. Lorenc Malka & Alfred Daci & Alban Kuriqi & Pietro Bartocci & Ermonela Rrapaj, 2022. "Energy Storage Benefits Assessment Using Multiple-Choice Criteria: The Case of Drini River Cascade, Albania," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-22, May.
    13. Johnson, Samuel C. & Papageorgiou, Dimitri J. & Mallapragada, Dharik S. & Deetjen, Thomas A. & Rhodes, Joshua D. & Webber, Michael E., 2019. "Evaluating rotational inertia as a component of grid reliability with high penetrations of variable renewable energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 258-271.
    14. Guerra, K. & Haro, P. & Gutiérrez, R.E. & Gómez-Barea, A., 2022. "Facing the high share of variable renewable energy in the power system: Flexibility and stability requirements," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    15. Guerra, K. & Gutiérrez-Alvarez, R. & Guerra, Omar J. & Haro, P., 2023. "Opportunities for low-carbon generation and storage technologies to decarbonise the future power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    16. Welfle, Andrew & Gilbert, Paul & Thornley, Patricia, 2014. "Securing a bioenergy future without imports," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 1-14.
    17. Dalala, Zakariya & Al-Omari, Murad & Al-Addous, Mohammad & Bdour, Mathhar & Al-Khasawneh, Yaqoub & Alkasrawi, Malek, 2022. "Increased renewable energy penetration in national electrical grids constraints and solutions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guerra, K. & Haro, P. & Gutiérrez, R.E. & Gómez-Barea, A., 2022. "Facing the high share of variable renewable energy in the power system: Flexibility and stability requirements," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    2. Guerra, K. & Gutiérrez-Alvarez, R. & Guerra, Omar J. & Haro, P., 2023. "Opportunities for low-carbon generation and storage technologies to decarbonise the future power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    3. Villamor, Lila Vázquez & Avagyan, Vitali & Chalmers, Hannah, 2020. "Opportunities for reducing curtailment of wind energy in the future electricity systems: Insights from modelling analysis of Great Britain," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    4. Østergaard, P.A. & Lund, H. & Thellufsen, J.Z. & Sorknæs, P. & Mathiesen, B.V., 2022. "Review and validation of EnergyPLAN," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    5. Chang, Miguel & Thellufsen, Jakob Zink & Zakeri, Behnam & Pickering, Bryn & Pfenninger, Stefan & Lund, Henrik & Østergaard, Poul Alberg, 2021. "Trends in tools and approaches for modelling the energy transition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    6. Gils, Hans Christian & Gardian, Hedda & Kittel, Martin & Schill, Wolf-Peter & Murmann, Alexander & Launer, Jann & Gaumnitz, Felix & van Ouwerkerk, Jonas & Mikurda, Jennifer & Torralba-Díaz, Laura, 2022. "Model-related outcome differences in power system models with sector coupling—Quantification and drivers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    7. Gils, Hans Christian & Gardian, Hedda & Kittel, Martin & Schill, Wolf-Peter & Zerrahn, Alexander & Murmann, Alexander & Launer, Jann & Fehler, Alexander & Gaumnitz, Felix & van Ouwerkerk, Jonas & Bußa, 2022. "Modeling flexibility in energy systems — comparison of power sector models based on simplified test cases," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    8. van Ouwerkerk, Jonas & Gils, Hans Christian & Gardian, Hedda & Kittel, Martin & Schill, Wolf-Peter & Zerrahn, Alexander & Murmann, Alexander & Launer, Jann & Torralba-Díaz, Laura & Bußar, Christian, 2022. "Impacts of power sector model features on optimal capacity expansion: A comparative study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    9. Laha, Priyanka & Chakraborty, Basab, 2021. "Low carbon electricity system for India in 2030 based on multi-objective multi-criteria assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    10. Wogrin, S. & Tejada-Arango, D. & Delikaraoglou, S. & Botterud, A., 2020. "Assessing the impact of inertia and reactive power constraints in generation expansion planning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    11. Vecchi, Andrea & Sciacovelli, Adriano, 2023. "Long-duration thermo-mechanical energy storage – Present and future techno-economic competitiveness," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    12. Zerrahn, Alexander & Schill, Wolf-Peter, 2017. "Long-run power storage requirements for high shares of renewables: review and a new model," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1518-1534.
    13. Blanco, Herib & Leaver, Jonathan & Dodds, Paul E. & Dickinson, Robert & García-Gusano, Diego & Iribarren, Diego & Lind, Arne & Wang, Changlong & Danebergs, Janis & Baumann, Martin, 2022. "A taxonomy of models for investigating hydrogen energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    14. Henning Thiesen & Clemens Jauch, 2021. "Application of a New Dispatch Methodology to Identify the Influence of Inertia Supplying Wind Turbines on Day-Ahead Market Sales Volumes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, February.
    15. Klemm, Christian & Vennemann, Peter, 2021. "Modeling and optimization of multi-energy systems in mixed-use districts: A review of existing methods and approaches," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    16. Mohamed Hadri & Vincenzo Trovato & Agnes Bialecki & Bruno Merk & Aiden Peakman, 2021. "Assessment of High-Electrification UK Scenarios with Varying Levels of Nuclear Power and Associated Post-Fault Behaviour," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    17. Bistline, John E.T. & Blanford, Geoffrey J., 2020. "Value of technology in the U.S. electric power sector: Impacts of full portfolios and technological change on the costs of meeting decarbonization goals," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    18. Mowers, Matthew & Mignone, Bryan K. & Steinberg, Daniel C., 2023. "Quantifying value and representing competitiveness of electricity system technologies in economic models," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    19. Johnson, Samuel C. & Rhodes, Joshua D. & Webber, Michael E., 2020. "Understanding the impact of non-synchronous wind and solar generation on grid stability and identifying mitigation pathways," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    20. Allard, Stéphane & Mima, Silvana & Debusschere, Vincent & Quoc, Tuan Tran & Criqui, Patrick & Hadjsaid, Nouredine, 2020. "European transmission grid expansion as a flexibility option in a scenario of large scale variable renewable energies integration," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:357:y:2024:i:c:s0306261923018111. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.