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Main Authors: van Ouwerkerk, Jonas, Gils, Hans Christian, Gardian, Hedda, Kittel, Martin, Schill, Wolf-Peter, Zerrahn, Alexander, Murmann, Alexander, Launer, Jann, Torralba-Díaz, Laura, Bußar, Christian
Format: Preprint
Published: 2021
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.06530
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author van Ouwerkerk, Jonas
Gils, Hans Christian
Gardian, Hedda
Kittel, Martin
Schill, Wolf-Peter
Zerrahn, Alexander
Murmann, Alexander
Launer, Jann
Torralba-Díaz, Laura
Bußar, Christian
author_facet van Ouwerkerk, Jonas
Gils, Hans Christian
Gardian, Hedda
Kittel, Martin
Schill, Wolf-Peter
Zerrahn, Alexander
Murmann, Alexander
Launer, Jann
Torralba-Díaz, Laura
Bußar, Christian
contents The transition towards decarbonized energy systems requires the expansion of renewable and flexibility technologies in power sectors. In a model comparison, we examine the optimal expansion of such technologies with six capacity expansion power system models. The technologies under investigation include base- and peak-load power plants, electricity storage, and transmission. We define four highly simplified and harmonized use cases that focus on the expansion of only one or two specific technologies to isolate their effects on model results. We find that deviating assumptions on limited availability factors of technologies cause technology-specific deviations between optimal capacity expansion in models in almost all use cases. Fixed energy-to-power-ratios of storage can entirely change model optimal expansion outcomes, especially shifting the ratio between short- and long-duration storage. Fixed initial and end storage levels can impact the seasonal use of long-duration storage. Models with a pre-ordered dispatch structure significantly deviate from linear optimization models, as limited foresight and flexibility can lead to higher capacity investments. A simplified net transfer capacity approach underestimates the need for grid infrastructure compared to a more detailed direct current load flow approach. We further find deviations in model results of optimal storage and transmission capacity expansion between regions and link them to variable renewable energy generation and demand characteristics. We expect that the general effects identified in our stylized setting also hold in more detailed model applications, although they may be less visible there.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2109_06530
institution arXiv
publishDate 2021
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Comparison of power sector models by analyzing the impact of modeling features on optimal capacity expansion
van Ouwerkerk, Jonas
Gils, Hans Christian
Gardian, Hedda
Kittel, Martin
Schill, Wolf-Peter
Zerrahn, Alexander
Murmann, Alexander
Launer, Jann
Torralba-Díaz, Laura
Bußar, Christian
Systems and Control
The transition towards decarbonized energy systems requires the expansion of renewable and flexibility technologies in power sectors. In a model comparison, we examine the optimal expansion of such technologies with six capacity expansion power system models. The technologies under investigation include base- and peak-load power plants, electricity storage, and transmission. We define four highly simplified and harmonized use cases that focus on the expansion of only one or two specific technologies to isolate their effects on model results. We find that deviating assumptions on limited availability factors of technologies cause technology-specific deviations between optimal capacity expansion in models in almost all use cases. Fixed energy-to-power-ratios of storage can entirely change model optimal expansion outcomes, especially shifting the ratio between short- and long-duration storage. Fixed initial and end storage levels can impact the seasonal use of long-duration storage. Models with a pre-ordered dispatch structure significantly deviate from linear optimization models, as limited foresight and flexibility can lead to higher capacity investments. A simplified net transfer capacity approach underestimates the need for grid infrastructure compared to a more detailed direct current load flow approach. We further find deviations in model results of optimal storage and transmission capacity expansion between regions and link them to variable renewable energy generation and demand characteristics. We expect that the general effects identified in our stylized setting also hold in more detailed model applications, although they may be less visible there.
title Comparison of power sector models by analyzing the impact of modeling features on optimal capacity expansion
topic Systems and Control
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.06530