Spain's Energy Shift: Optimal Mixes Cut Costs and Emissions
Spain's energy landscape is transforming, with researchers investigating ideal mixes to balance costs, emissions, and reliability. A study from the University of Seville shows that maintaining thermal power plants solely for grid-strengthening 'ancillary services' increases electricity supply costs and CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, closing half of Spain's nuclear capacity reduces excess electricity curtailment but boosts thermal energy generation and emissions.
Last year, the cost of ancillary services in Spain reached €2.67 billion ($3.13 billion), a 7.5% increase from the previous year. The cheapest-to-establish mix would involve 80 TWh of solar and 70 TWh of wind power, alongside 45 GWh of storage capacity. This setup maintains grid flexibility by replacing nuclear generation with combined cycle gas plants. However, a system relying on conventional power plants for ancillary services would need 17 combined cycle plants, with nine limited to 1,132 hours of operation per year.
Researchers also modeled an 'unconstrained' scenario involving investment in flexible alternating-current (AC) transmission systems (FACTS). This approach removes the need for combined cycle gas turbines, increasing renewables penetration and reducing costs and emissions. Conversely, a 'constrained' scenario would require nuclear power and nine gas turbines operating year-round, plus 130 TWh of solar and wind power and 60 GWh of storage, with 2.1% of energy generated wasted.
The optimal energy system, as modeled by University of Seville researchers, comprises the same volume of solar and wind power generation capacity but with 75 GWh of storage. This configuration produces only 3.71 million tons of emissions and contributes 68% of the energy mix. Their methodology compares the economic impact and supply costs of providing ancillary services in high-renewable-energy-penetration scenarios, aiming to optimize Spain's energy future.
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