THE IMPACT OF SECTOR COUPLING OPTIONS ON ELECTRICITY SYSTEMS – AN EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT FLEXIBILITY OPTIONS

摘要

The challenge of decarbonizing the energy system involves not only the electricity sector, but also transportation and heating. Yet, there is no clear vision about how these sectors are going to merge into an integrated system with almost zero emissions. Given that the power sector is arguably easier to decarbonize, as well as the versatility of electricity as an energy carrier, a transition towards a fully renewable power sector is mandatory. Various studies show that this transition is driven by wind, solar PV and hydro-based generation (Jacobson et al. 2016; Ram et al. 2017; Gerbaulet and Lorenz 2017). However, future cost and technology developments are highly uncertain (e.g. power-to-gas or storages developments) which leads to no clear answer about the shape of future energy systems. In addition, model results are subject to underlaying assumptions about future demand patterns and development. More specifically, the level of integration of electric vehicles, smart-grids, demand-side management, economic growth and efficiency gains determines the resulting demand. Policies fostering a specific technology or influential stakeholders might also affect the development of technologies, which might be outside of the scope of the models despite their importance.