IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v43y2012icp47-60.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The technical and economic implications of integrating fluctuating renewable energy using energy storage

Author

Listed:
  • Connolly, D.
  • Lund, H.
  • Mathiesen, B.V.
  • Pican, E.
  • Leahy, M.

Abstract

This paper investigates how large-scale energy storage can assist the integration of fluctuating renewable energy by using the Irish energy system, pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES), and wind power as a case study. In total three key aspects were investigated in relation to PHES: its operation, size, and cost. From the results it was evident that PHES can increase the wind penetration feasible on the Irish energy system and also reduce its operating costs. However, under predicted 2020 fuel prices and a conventional 6% interest rate, these savings may not be sufficient since the savings are sensitive to changes in the PHES capacities used, fuel prices, interest rates, and the total annual wind energy produced. Finally, the optimum capacities of PHES identified for Ireland in 2020 were compared to two other alternatives which required the same investment: domestic heat pumps and district heating with CHP. These alternatives offer similar savings to PHES, but are not as sensitive to changes in fuel prices, interest rates, and wind power production. This outlines the importance of considering all sectors of an energy system when assessing future alternatives, as significant savings are feasible using existing technologies, especially by integrating the electricity and heat sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Connolly, D. & Lund, H. & Mathiesen, B.V. & Pican, E. & Leahy, M., 2012. "The technical and economic implications of integrating fluctuating renewable energy using energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 47-60.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:43:y:2012:i:c:p:47-60
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2011.11.003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148111006057
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2011.11.003?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Segurado, Raquel & Krajacic, Goran & Duic, Neven & Alves, Luís, 2011. "Increasing the penetration of renewable energy resources in S. Vicente, Cape Verde," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 466-472, February.
    2. Katsaprakakis, Dimitris Al. & Christakis, Dimitris G. & Zervos, Arthouros & Papantonis, Dimitris & Voutsinas, Spiros, 2008. "Pumped storage systems introduction in isolated power production systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 467-490.
    3. Kaldellis, J. K. & Kavadias, K. A., 2001. "Optimal wind-hydro solution for Aegean Sea islands' electricity-demand fulfilment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 70(4), pages 333-354, December.
    4. Yang, Chi-Jen & Jackson, Robert B., 2011. "Opportunities and barriers to pumped-hydro energy storage in the United States," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 839-844, January.
    5. Benitez, Liliana E. & Benitez, Pablo C. & van Kooten, G. Cornelis, 2008. "The economics of wind power with energy storage," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 1973-1989, July.
    6. Connolly, D. & Lund, H. & Mathiesen, B.V. & Leahy, M., 2010. "A review of computer tools for analysing the integration of renewable energy into various energy systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1059-1082, April.
    7. Lund, Henrik, 2005. "Large-scale integration of wind power into different energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(13), pages 2402-2412.
    8. Lund, H. & Möller, B. & Mathiesen, B.V. & Dyrelund, A., 2010. "The role of district heating in future renewable energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 1381-1390.
    9. Bakos, George C., 2002. "Feasibility study of a hybrid wind/hydro power-system for low-cost electricity production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(3-4), pages 599-608, July.
    10. Dursun, Bahtiyar & Alboyaci, Bora, 2010. "The contribution of wind-hydro pumped storage systems in meeting Turkey's electric energy demand," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(7), pages 1979-1988, September.
    11. Marco Semadeni, 2003. "Energy storage as an essential part of sustainable energy systems," CEPE Working paper series 03-24, CEPE Center for Energy Policy and Economics, ETH Zurich.
    12. Connolly, D. & Lund, H. & Mathiesen, B.V. & Leahy, M., 2010. "Modelling the existing Irish energy-system to identify future energy costs and the maximum wind penetration feasible," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 2164-2173.
    13. Anagnostopoulos, J.S. & Papantonis, D.E., 2008. "Simulation and size optimization of a pumped–storage power plant for the recovery of wind-farms rejected energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1685-1694.
    14. Nyamdash, Batsaikhan & Denny, Eleanor & O'Malley, Mark, 2010. "The viability of balancing wind generation with large scale energy storage," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 7200-7208, November.
    15. Foley, A.M. & Ó Gallachóir, B.P. & Hur, J. & Baldick, R. & McKeogh, E.J., 2010. "A strategic review of electricity systems models," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 4522-4530.
    16. Krajacic, Goran & Duic, Neven & Carvalho, Maria da Graça, 2011. "How to achieve a 100% RES electricity supply for Portugal?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 508-517, February.
    17. Kaldellis, J.K. & Kapsali, M. & Kavadias, K.A., 2010. "Energy balance analysis of wind-based pumped hydro storage systems in remote island electrical networks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(8), pages 2427-2437, August.
    18. Connolly, D. & MacLaughlin, S. & Leahy, M., 2010. "Development of a computer program to locate potential sites for pumped hydroelectric energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 375-381.
    19. Deane, J.P. & Ó Gallachóir, B.P. & McKeogh, E.J., 2010. "Techno-economic review of existing and new pumped hydro energy storage plant," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(4), pages 1293-1302, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rehman, Shafiqur & Al-Hadhrami, Luai M. & Alam, Md. Mahbub, 2015. "Pumped hydro energy storage system: A technological review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 586-598.
    2. Katsaprakakis, Dimitris Al. & Christakis, Dimitris G., 2014. "Seawater pumped storage systems and offshore wind parks in islands with low onshore wind potential. A fundamental case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 470-486.
    3. Liu, Wen & Hu, Weihao & Lund, Henrik & Chen, Zhe, 2013. "Electric vehicles and large-scale integration of wind power – The case of Inner Mongolia in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 445-456.
    4. Díaz-González, Francisco & Sumper, Andreas & Gomis-Bellmunt, Oriol & Villafáfila-Robles, Roberto, 2012. "A review of energy storage technologies for wind power applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 2154-2171.
    5. Caballero, F. & Sauma, E. & Yanine, F., 2013. "Business optimal design of a grid-connected hybrid PV (photovoltaic)-wind energy system without energy storage for an Easter Island's block," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 248-261.
    6. Foley, A.M. & Leahy, P.G. & Li, K. & McKeogh, E.J. & Morrison, A.P., 2015. "A long-term analysis of pumped hydro storage to firm wind power," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 638-648.
    7. Krajačić, Goran & Lončar, Dražen & Duić, Neven & Zeljko, Mladen & Lacal Arántegui, Roberto & Loisel, Rodica & Raguzin, Igor, 2013. "Analysis of financial mechanisms in support to new pumped hydropower storage projects in Croatia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 161-171.
    8. Ardizzon, G. & Cavazzini, G. & Pavesi, G., 2014. "A new generation of small hydro and pumped-hydro power plants: Advances and future challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 746-761.
    9. Katsaprakakis, Dimitris Al. & Christakis, Dimitris G. & Stefanakis, Ioannis & Spanos, Petros & Stefanakis, Nikos, 2013. "Technical details regarding the design, the construction and the operation of seawater pumped storage systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 619-630.
    10. Liu, Wen & Lund, Henrik & Mathiesen, Brian Vad, 2011. "Large-scale integration of wind power into the existing Chinese energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 4753-4760.
    11. Connolly, D. & Lund, H. & Finn, P. & Mathiesen, B.V. & Leahy, M., 2011. "Practical operation strategies for pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES) utilising electricity price arbitrage," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 4189-4196, July.
    12. Lund, Peter D. & Lindgren, Juuso & Mikkola, Jani & Salpakari, Jyri, 2015. "Review of energy system flexibility measures to enable high levels of variable renewable electricity," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 785-807.
    13. Kapsali, M. & Kaldellis, J.K., 2010. "Combining hydro and variable wind power generation by means of pumped-storage under economically viable terms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(11), pages 3475-3485, November.
    14. Katsaprakakis, Dimitris Al. & Christakis, Dimitris G. & Pavlopoylos, Kosmas & Stamataki, Sofia & Dimitrelou, Irene & Stefanakis, Ioannis & Spanos, Petros, 2012. "Introduction of a wind powered pumped storage system in the isolated insular power system of Karpathos–Kasos," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 38-48.
    15. Abolhosseini, Shahrouz & Heshmati, Almas & Altmann, Jörn, 2014. "A Review of Renewable Energy Supply and Energy Efficiency Technologies," IZA Discussion Papers 8145, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Meschede, Henning & Holzapfel, Peter & Kadelbach, Florian & Hesselbach, Jens, 2016. "Classification of global island regarding the opportunity of using RES," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 251-258.
    17. Krajacic, Goran & Duic, Neven & Carvalho, Maria da Graça, 2011. "How to achieve a 100% RES electricity supply for Portugal?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 508-517, February.
    18. Lund, Henrik & Mathiesen, Brian Vad, 2012. "The role of Carbon Capture and Storage in a future sustainable energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 469-476.
    19. Flora, Rui & Marques, António Cardoso & Fuinhas, José Alberto, 2014. "Wind power idle capacity in a panel of European countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 823-830.
    20. Amorim, Filipa & Pina, André & Gerbelová, Hana & Pereira da Silva, Patrícia & Vasconcelos, Jorge & Martins, Victor, 2014. "Electricity decarbonisation pathways for 2050 in Portugal: A TIMES (The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System) based approach in closed versus open systems modelling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 104-112.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:43:y:2012:i:c:p:47-60. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.