IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v215y2025ics136403212500293x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Integrated energy system modeling perspectives for future decarbonization pathways based on sector coupling, life-cycle emissions and vehicle-to-grid integration

Author

Listed:
  • Agarwal, Anu
  • Sharma, Tarun

Abstract

The impending environmental crisis has propelled the global energy sector into radical transformation. Variable renewable energy necessitates unprecedented flexibility, transcending energy needs. Decarbonization is critical to achieving sustainable development goals on clean energy and climate action, creating a healthier planet for all. This critical review of current energy system modeling advocates integrated-whole-energy-system models as vital tools for generating diverse energy and policy-related insights. Sector-coupling is investigated, exploring the complex interplay between power, gas, transport, and heating. Nine challenges are delineated: Uncertainty, Renewable integration, Transparency and open-access, High-resolution modeling, Sector-coupling, Flexibility, Technological representation, Life-cycle emissions, and Social and human factors, while offering strategies for their resolution. This review envisions a future powered by renewables, achieving 50 % emissions and 30 % water usage reductions within a decade. The life cycle assessment integration can result in up to 80 % reductions in emissions; however, the cost may increase up to 40–60 %. Emerging technologies like green hydrogen and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) are vital drivers. Green hydrogen offers flexible storage and distribution while V2G transforms electric vehicles into prosumers, enabling grid flexibility and demand management, with studies demonstrating 20–50 % cost reductions and 65 % peak load reduction. A case study for the future decarbonization of the Indian power sector is presented in 19 scenarios based on recent studies, demonstrating the dominant role of solar and wind energy with around 55 % and 22 % share in 2050. This review pinpoints crucial research gaps, identifies successful strategies, and proposes new avenues to guide the energy sector toward a sustainable, low-carbon future.

Suggested Citation

  • Agarwal, Anu & Sharma, Tarun, 2025. "Integrated energy system modeling perspectives for future decarbonization pathways based on sector coupling, life-cycle emissions and vehicle-to-grid integration," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:215:y:2025:i:c:s136403212500293x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115620
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136403212500293X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115620?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.

    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:rensus:v:215:y:2025:i:c:s136403212500293x. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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/600126/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.