New forms of flexibility key to an affordable, renewables-led power system

Flexible energy options, such as energy storage, smart-charging electric vehicles, demand response and interconnectors, are needed to ensure that the energy transition proceeds on an optimal path. Our expensive power system would otherwise be reliant on fossil-fueled backup and installing excess wind and solar capacity.

The four types of flexibility mentioned above can accelerate the transition to a cleaner power system and ultimately enable the efficient integration of 80 per cent or more renewable energy by 2040, according to two new reports published by BloombergNEF (BNEF) in partnership with Eaton and Statkraft.

The ‘Flexibility Solutions for High Renewable Energy Systems’ reports model a number of alternative scenarios for future power systems in the U.K. and Germany, respectively, depending on how each flexibility technology might develop in the coming years.

Energy storage and smart electric vehicle charging provide flexibility by moving large volumes of renewable energy to periods of high demand, or moving demand to periods of high renewable generation. Dispatchable demand response reduces the need for fossil-fired backup plants in the power system, reducing emissions. Interconnecting to Nordic hydro can address periods of both excess supply and excess demand, providing different benefits over the decades as the needs of the system evolve.

“For Statkraft, as the largest generator of renewable energy in Europe, it is interesting to see that Nordic hydropower reservoirs can play an important role for decarbonization of the European power systems, together with other flexibility solutions. This is consistent with our own analyses – confirming that a global renewables share of 70 per cent is possible by 2040 if we let modern solutions for flexibility and market design allow cheap renewables to replace more expensive fossil solutions,” said Henrik Sætness, SVP Strategy and Analyses at Statkraft.

The two studies – focused on the U.K. and Germany – highlight that policies and regulation accelerating the adoption of these technologies are key to make a cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient power system possible.

Specific findings for the U.K. include:

• None of the scenarios halt the transition to a low-carbon power system. In all scenarios, the renewable share of generation exceeds 70 per cent by 2030 as wind and solar become dominant, thanks to their dramatic and ongoing cost improvements. However, without new sources of clean flexibility, the system will be oversized and wasteful, making it 13 per cent more expensive by 2040 and with 36 per cent higher emissions.
• Greater electrification of transport yields major emissions savings with little risk to the power generation system. Avoided fuel emissions far outstrip added power sector emissions in the U.K. The power generation system will comfortably integrate all these electric vehicles, and the system benefits are even greater if most EVs charge flexibly. However, local distribution networks are likely to face challenges.
• Accelerated energy storage development can hasten the transition to a renewable power system in the U.K., with significant benefits by 2030 including a 13 per cent emissions reduction and 12 per cent less fossil backup capacity needed.

Specific findings for Germany include:

• In Germany, adding flexibility supports coal through 2030, even as renewables grow to dominate the market. This counterintuitive finding is not due to a problem with batteries, EVs, demand response or interconnectors – cheap coal is the culprit. Flexible technologies are important because they can integrate inflexible generation – and in Germany’s case, its inexpensive lignite plants also benefit. To decarbonize, Germany needs to address existing coal generation while investing in renewables, flexibility and interconnection.
• Still, by 2040, adding more batteries, flexible electric vehicles and interconnections with the Nordics all enable greater renewable penetration and emissions savings. More flexible demand, on the other hand, reduces the need for battery investment.
• Even with Germany’s coal-heavy power, adding EVs reduces transport emissions.