The Role of Firm Low-Carbon Electricity Resources in Deep Decarbonization of Power Generation

By Néstor Sepúlveda, Jesse D. Jenkins, F. D. de Sisternes, R. Lester. Joule, 2018

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Summary We investigate the role of firm low-carbon resources in decarbonizing power generation in combination with variable renewable resources, battery energy storage, demand flexibility, and long-distance transmission. We evaluate nearly 1,000 cases covering varying CO2 limits, technological uncertainties, and geographic differences in demand and renewable resource potential. Availability of firm low-carbon technologies, including nuclear, natural gas with carbon capture and sequestration, and bioenergy, reduces electricity costs by 10%–62% across fully decarbonized cases. Below 50 gCO2/kWh, these resources lower costs in the vast majority of cases. Additionally, as emissions limits decrease, installed capacity of several resources changes non-monotonically. This underscores the need to evaluate near-term policy and investment decisions based on contributions to long-term decarbonization rather than interim goals. Installed capacity for all resources is also strongly affected by uncertain technology parameters. This emphasizes the importance of a broad research portfolio and flexible policy support that expands rather than constrains future options.

Subfields: Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Energy Engineering and Power Technology, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/574594c8bdce53a5c5b1a4ed513e8e1c5ba484d6

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