Switch without energy storage

What is switch power system planning?

Switch is an open-source power system planning model that is uniquely suited for designing and studying future power systems that may have large shares of renewable energy, storage and/or demand response.

Does storage reduce the need for transmission capacity and dispatchable renewables?

We observe that storage decreases the need for transmission capacity and dispatchable renewables like biomass while shifting the solar and wind balance (Fig. 5b). Due to the significant drop in curtailment for scenarios up to 20 TWh, less generation capacity is needed to deliver the same energy to the grid.

How long does a grid need to store electricity?

First, our results suggest to industry and grid planners that the cost-effective duration for storage is closely tied to the grid’s generation mix. Solar-dominant grids tend to need 6-to-8-h storage while wind-dominant grids have a greater need for 10-to-20-h storage.

Can we reach a net zero electricity grid?

However, reaching an entirely net zero and reliable electricity grid remains challenging 8, 9, 10. Numerous potential solutions to this problem have been studied by researchers 11.

How does switch work?

Switch uses a state-of-the mathematical formulation that considers multiple investment periods and chronologically sequences of hours, enabling optimization and assessment of a long-term renewable transition based on a direct consideration of how these resources would be used hour-by-hour.

Do energy storage mandates reduce variability in electricity prices?

We find that energy storage mandates largely reduce the variability in electricity prices, especially for the first 20 TWh of mandates (Fig. 6a). In the 1.94 TWh baseline, 82% of the marginal prices are at 0 $/MWh since for large portions of the year the WECC generates more renewable energy than it needs.