Search

The EU has undertaken a thorough reform of its energy model. Current EU 2050 climate commitment sets an 80–95% GHG reduction goal. To reach this goal, the EU must make continued progress towards a low-carbon society. Renewable energy sources and electric vehicle play an important role for a gradual transition. The power grid faces a challenging future due to intermittency and the non-dispatchable nature of wind and solar energy production, but flexibility needs can migrate from generation to load, with the expansion of demand-side resources and storage technologies. A novel grid technique is presented and evaluated in this paper for the optimal integrated operation of renewable resources and electric vehicle to increase penetration of renewable energy. It is proposed a distribute control system to manage a charge and discharge strategy to support mismatching between load and renewable generation thru V2G technology. Demand response, peak saving and ancillary services are introduced to keep a reliable power quality, stable frequency and flatten load profile. Image 1 • Europe 2050 low-carbon scenario based on RES and energy efficiency is reviewed. • The effects of high renewable and efficient electricity system are assessed. • A smart charging strategy for EV is presented to provide grid services. • Demand response and EV storage are analyzed to match with non-dispatchable resources. • The impact of proposed charging strategy on electric load curve is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One promising technology to manage and store renewable electricity from wind or solar sources is Power to Gas (PtG). PtG combines H 2 from electrolysis –run by renewable electricity– with CO 2 to produce synthetic CH 4. A suitable option to get the required CO 2 streams is the integration with carbon capture technologies, in particular with oxy-fuel combustion. The application proposed in this study is a cogeneration system that combines PtG, oxyfuel boiler, wind energy and photovoltaic solar production to be applied in buildings. This paper describes the concept and analyses the influence of equipment dimensions varying the relative size and the proportion of the solar-wind installed power for two locations representative of North and South European countries. Show that higher solar and wind powers are required in the Northern region to satisfy coverage of thermal demand. It results in longer time displacement of energy storage towards cold months. Accordingly to the generation patterns of wind and solar energies, higher solar proportion results in longer energy storage periods. Therefore, solar resource is more suitable than wind power to exploit the potential of PtG technology, although the size of the overall systems increases. • An application of satisfying energy demand through Power to Gas is analysed. • The combination of solar PV, wind, oxyfuel boiler and energy storage is feasible. • North Europe countries need bigger systems achieving large energy storage. • Energy storage necessities for southern Europe countries are smaller than for Northern Europe. • Larger amounts of synthetic gas are stored with high PV power shares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy is a focal point of discussion in the European Union, as clean production technologies contribute to all three aims of energy policy (security, competitiveness, and sustainability). This paper focuses on an empirical assessment of feed-in tariff and quota obligation policies, as well as their policy design elements, applied to solar photovoltaic energy in the European Union over the period 2000–2014. The results indicate that only feed-in tariff policy has significant impacts in terms of installed photovoltaic capacity. However, its main policy design elements (tariff size and contract duration) have a positive but not significant influence on the development of this clean production technology. Policy-makers should consider the importance of reducing regulatory uncertainty about these parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High altitude winds are considered to be, together with solar energy, the most promising renewable energy source in the future. Till date, there are no yet solutions available on the market but various concepts for utilizing high altitude winds are under research and are expected to be fully operational within next few years. In this paper, the potential of high altitude wind energy will be investigated for the SEE (Southeast Europe) region and mapped using available data and technologies. The data available from NCEP/DOE analysis will be used in terms of obtaining the high altitude wind speeds for the span of 30 years, from 1980 to 2010, which are then processed for easier visualization. The obtained data is plotted against the available geographic data which could limit the positioning of the system (settlements, traffic…). The result of this work will display the “optimal” locations for these kinds of facilities for the Southeast Europe region. Such map could be beneficial for all future plans of utilizing this high altitude winds as a power source. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Biomass can help reaching climate goals in many sectors. In electricity generation it can complement variable renewables or, if coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS), also provide negative emissions. This paper adds to the existing literature by focusing on the cost-efficiency of balancing variable renewables with biomass and by providing an indication on acceptance of these technologies. A dynamic optimization model is used to analyse the role of biomass in the European electricity system pending different emission targets for 2050. The results are compared with survey data on investment preferences for biomass technologies, and wind and solar power. The formulation of the emission target greatly influences the cost-efficient use of biomass, with more concentrated use observed, if bioenergy with CCS is allowed. This indicates that a Europe-wide emission target could be more cost-efficient than separate national targets. Both governmental and nongovernmental actors tend to be negative towards investing in biomass technologies, although with greater variation if combined with CCS, indicating possible challenges for implementation. Their attitudes towards wind and solar power are much more positive in all countries, supporting the continuation of the existing trend of an increasing share of variable renewables in the European electricity system. • Formulation of the emission target greatly influence biomass use and distribution. • Europe-wide emission targets may be preferred when negative emissions are required. • Negative emissions combined with natural gas are cost-efficient variation management. • Preferences to invest in bio-based technologies are low in all countries. • Non-governmental actors strongly oppose bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]