Towards a new renewable power system using energy storage: An economic and social analysis

The energy transition is one of the main challenges in mitigating the CO2 emissions from the power sector. Solar and wind resources are presented as the two most promising alternatives in the future energy mix. However, the inherent fluctuations of these two resources jeopardize the stability of the grid. To overcome this issue, the combination of intermittent and non-intermittent renewable energies along with different storage technologies is proposed. In this work, the integration of these technologies is evaluated using different future scenarios. Three renewable resources have been analyzed (solar, wind, and biomass) in combination with four different storage systems (battery, hydrogen, methane, and ammonia). This problem has been evaluated from two different perspectives, economic and social (for which a new indicator is developed). Particularly, this methodology is applied to Spain where different provinces have been assessed to implement these integrated facilities. The results show the paramount importance of using storage alternatives to satisfy the demand and to store energy seasonally. In economic terms, an average cost of electricity of about 100-200 (sic)/MWh is expected with a high influence of the ratios of wind and solar in the different locations and the selected storage alternatives. Additionally, the proposed social index indicates the regions where these facilities could be installed to mitigate social inequalities. With this two-pronged approach, an orderly, fair, and efficient planning of the energy transition can be realized to achieve climate sustainability goals.

Automated summary

This research examines the prospects of solar and wind energy as part of the future energy mix, proposing a combination with different energy storage technologies to address grid stability issues. By evaluating various future scenarios and integrated energy systems, the study demonstrates the importance of storage alternatives in meeting energy demand and addressing social inequalities.