Exploring the competition between variable renewable electricity and a carbon-neutral baseload technology
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2020

In this paper we explore the competition between variable renewable energy sources (VRE) and a carbon-neutral baseload technology in the transition to a low-carbon power system. We study a stylized system subject to a gradually increasing carbon tax using an agent-based model where agents are power companies investing in new capacity. The agents make predictions of the profitability of different investment options. Five electricity generating technologies are available in the model: coal, gas, wind, solar PV and a more expensive carbon-neutral baseload technology. We compare the output from our model with a corresponding optimization model. We present two main findings: (1) installed capacity of VRE initially increases with a carbon tax. However, once the carbon tax has reached a certain level the installed capacity of VRE starts to decline due to competition with the stylized carbon-neutral baseload technology. (2) With limited foresight we find that the model underinvests (first 25 years) in wind and then overinvests in wind compared to the optimal solution. The reasons for these dynamic phenomena are explained and an extensive sensitivity analysis is carried out.

Optimization

Variable renewables

Investment decisions

Agent-based modeling

Wind power

Solar PV

Författare

Emma Jonson

Chalmers, Rymd-, geo- och miljövetenskap, Fysisk resursteori

Christian Azar

Chalmers, Rymd-, geo- och miljövetenskap, Fysisk resursteori

Kristian Lindgren

Chalmers, Rymd-, geo- och miljövetenskap, Fysisk resursteori

Liv Lundberg

Chalmers, Rymd-, geo- och miljövetenskap, Fysisk resursteori

Energy Systems

1868-3967 (ISSN) 1868-3975 (eISSN)

Vol. 11 1 21-44

En agent-baserad ansats för analys och modellering av energisystem i omvandling

Energimyndigheten (42032-1), 2016-01-01 -- 2018-12-31.

Styrkeområden

Energi

Ämneskategorier

Energisystem

DOI

10.1007/s12667-018-0308-6

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2020-03-31