TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial integration for firm and load-following wind generation
AU - López Prol, Javier
AU - deLlano-Paz, Fernando
AU - Calvo-Silvosa, Anxo
AU - Pfenninger, Stefan
AU - Staffell, Iain
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Wind power has considerable potential to decarbonise electricity systems due to its low cost and wide availability. However, its variability is one factor limiting uptake. We propose a simple analytical framework to optimise the distribution of wind capacity across regions to achieve a maximally firm or load-following profile. We develop a novel dataset of simulated hourly wind capacity factors (CFs) with bias correction for 111 Chinese provinces, European countries and US states spanning ten years (∼10 million observations). This flexible framework allows for near-optimal analysis, integration of demand, and consideration of additional decision criteria without additional modelling. We find that spatial integration of wind resources optimising the distribution of capacities provides significant benefits in terms of higher CF or lower residual load and lower variability at sub-, quasi- and inter-continental levels. We employ the concept of firmness as achieving a reliable and certain generation profile and show that, in the best case, the intercontinental interconnection between China, Europe and the US could restrict wind CFs to within the range of 15%–40% for 99% of the time. Smaller configurations corresponding to existing electricity markets also provide more certain and reliable generation profiles than isolated individual regions.
AB - Wind power has considerable potential to decarbonise electricity systems due to its low cost and wide availability. However, its variability is one factor limiting uptake. We propose a simple analytical framework to optimise the distribution of wind capacity across regions to achieve a maximally firm or load-following profile. We develop a novel dataset of simulated hourly wind capacity factors (CFs) with bias correction for 111 Chinese provinces, European countries and US states spanning ten years (∼10 million observations). This flexible framework allows for near-optimal analysis, integration of demand, and consideration of additional decision criteria without additional modelling. We find that spatial integration of wind resources optimising the distribution of capacities provides significant benefits in terms of higher CF or lower residual load and lower variability at sub-, quasi- and inter-continental levels. We employ the concept of firmness as achieving a reliable and certain generation profile and show that, in the best case, the intercontinental interconnection between China, Europe and the US could restrict wind CFs to within the range of 15%–40% for 99% of the time. Smaller configurations corresponding to existing electricity markets also provide more certain and reliable generation profiles than isolated individual regions.
KW - decarbonisation
KW - energy transition
KW - transmission
KW - variable renewable energy
KW - wind power
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85200874390&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/1748-9326/ad5d7d
DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/ad5d7d
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85200874390
SN - 1748-9326
VL - 19
JO - Environmental Research Letters
JF - Environmental Research Letters
IS - 9
M1 - 094026
ER -