TY - JOUR
T1 - Future role of ocean thermal energy converters in a 100% renewable energy system on the case of the Maldives
AU - Keiner, Dominik
AU - Langer, Jannis
AU - Gulagi, Ashish
AU - Satymov, Rasul
AU - Breyer, Christian
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Energy transition on small islands is limited by the scarce availability of land, restricting large-scale implementation of onshore renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaics and wind power. Ocean energy technologies provide novel opportunities for land-constrained islands to achieve 100% renewable energy systems. While wave power is increasingly implemented in energy system modelling research, ocean thermal energy converters are not yet a standard technology in renewable energy technology portfolios. This research aims to study the impacts of ocean thermal energy converters on the energy system of the Maldives through a structured sensitivity analysis for the two scenario clusters covering e-fuel import and domestic production. The ocean thermal energy conversion plants are modelled using spatially and temporally resolved resource data and cost assumptions from a global upscaling scenario, considering the technology's current development stage. Results show that ocean thermal energy converters play a limited role in 'purely' cost-optimised sub-scenarios due to the availability of very low-cost offshore floating photovoltaics, making it difficult for them to compete. Nevertheless, reduced requirement of energy storage technologies due to the stable electricity production of ocean thermal energy converters offers an option to diversify the renewable energy technology portfolio with only a minor increase in cost.
AB - Energy transition on small islands is limited by the scarce availability of land, restricting large-scale implementation of onshore renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaics and wind power. Ocean energy technologies provide novel opportunities for land-constrained islands to achieve 100% renewable energy systems. While wave power is increasingly implemented in energy system modelling research, ocean thermal energy converters are not yet a standard technology in renewable energy technology portfolios. This research aims to study the impacts of ocean thermal energy converters on the energy system of the Maldives through a structured sensitivity analysis for the two scenario clusters covering e-fuel import and domestic production. The ocean thermal energy conversion plants are modelled using spatially and temporally resolved resource data and cost assumptions from a global upscaling scenario, considering the technology's current development stage. Results show that ocean thermal energy converters play a limited role in 'purely' cost-optimised sub-scenarios due to the availability of very low-cost offshore floating photovoltaics, making it difficult for them to compete. Nevertheless, reduced requirement of energy storage technologies due to the stable electricity production of ocean thermal energy converters offers an option to diversify the renewable energy technology portfolio with only a minor increase in cost.
KW - e-fuels
KW - Energy system modelling
KW - Ocean energy technology
KW - Ocean thermal energy converter
KW - Solar PV
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85207814343&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.energy.2024.133620
DO - 10.1016/j.energy.2024.133620
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85207814343
SN - 0360-5442
VL - 312
JO - Energy
JF - Energy
M1 - 133620
ER -