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Life-Cycle Carbon Emissions and Energy Return on Investment for 80% Domestic Renewable Electricity with Battery Storage in California (U.S.A.)

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  • Marco Raugei

    (School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, Oxford Brookes University, Wheatley, Oxford OX33 1HX, UK
    Center for Life Cycle Assessment, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
    The Faraday Institution, Didcot OX11 0RA, UK)

  • Alessio Peluso

    (School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, Oxford Brookes University, Wheatley, Oxford OX33 1HX, UK)

  • Enrica Leccisi

    (Center for Life Cycle Assessment, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA)

  • Vasilis Fthenakis

    (Center for Life Cycle Assessment, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA)

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed life-cycle assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions, cumulative demand for total and non-renewable primary energy, and energy return on investment (EROI) for the domestic electricity grid mix in the U.S. state of California, using hourly historical data for 2018, and future projections of increased solar photovoltaic (PV) installed capacity with lithium-ion battery energy storage, so as to achieve 80% net renewable electricity generation in 2030, while ensuring the hourly matching of the supply and demand profiles at all times. Specifically—in line with California’s plans that aim to increase the renewable energy share into the electric grid—in this study, PV installed capacity is assumed to reach 43.7 GW in 2030, resulting of 52% of the 2030 domestic electricity generation. In the modelled 2030 scenario, single-cycle gas turbines and nuclear plants are completely phased out, while combined-cycle gas turbine output is reduced by 30% compared to 2018. Results indicate that 25% of renewable electricity ends up being routed into storage, while 2.8% is curtailed. Results also show that such energy transition strategy would be effective at curbing California’s domestic electricity grid mix carbon emissions by 50%, and reducing demand for non-renewable primary energy by 66%, while also achieving a 10% increase in overall EROI (in terms of electricity output per unit of investment).

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Raugei & Alessio Peluso & Enrica Leccisi & Vasilis Fthenakis, 2020. "Life-Cycle Carbon Emissions and Energy Return on Investment for 80% Domestic Renewable Electricity with Battery Storage in California (U.S.A.)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-22, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:15:p:3934-:d:393120
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Carla Cristiane Sokulski & Murillo Vetroni Barros & Rodrigo Salvador & Evandro Eduardo Broday & Antonio Carlos de Francisco, 2022. "Trends in Renewable Electricity Generation in the G20 Countries: An Analysis of the 1990–2020 Period," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-21, February.
    4. Moez Krichen & Yasir Basheer & Saeed Mian Qaisar & Asad Waqar, 2023. "A Survey on Energy Storage: Techniques and Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-29, February.
    5. David J. Murphy & Marco Raugei & Michael Carbajales-Dale & Brenda Rubio Estrada, 2022. "Energy Return on Investment of Major Energy Carriers: Review and Harmonization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Emblemsvåg, Jan, 2022. "Wind energy is not sustainable when balanced by fossil energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    7. Mudan Wang & Xianqiang Mao & Youkai Xing & Jianhong Lu & Peng Song & Zhengyan Liu & Zhi Guo & Kevin Tu & Eric Zusman, 2021. "Breaking down barriers on PV trade will facilitate global carbon mitigation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Ziad M. Ali & Martin Calasan & Shady H. E. Abdel Aleem & Francisco Jurado & Foad H. Gandoman, 2023. "Applications of Energy Storage Systems in Enhancing Energy Management and Access in Microgrids: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-41, August.
    9. Marco Raugei, 2023. "Addressing a Counterproductive Dichotomy in the Energy Transition Debate," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 1-6, September.
    10. Marta Bottero & Federico Dell’Anna & Vito Morgese, 2021. "Evaluating the Transition Towards Post-Carbon Cities: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-28, January.
    11. Seong Won Moon & Tong Seop Kim, 2020. "Advanced Gas Turbine Control Logic Using Black Box Models for Enhancing Operational Flexibility and Stability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-23, October.
    12. Marco Raugei & Alessio Peluso & Enrica Leccisi & Vasilis Fthenakis, 2021. "Life-Cycle Carbon Emissions and Energy Implications of High Penetration of Photovoltaics and Electric Vehicles in California," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.

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