European Union: Small scale solutions for climate neutrality by 2050?

The Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies said that small scale solutions could be the way that climate neutrality happens by 2050

Smaller scale systems incur a cost penalty of less than 20%

Modelling conducted as part of the study confirmed that the most affordable solution would involve the creation of an interconnected European grid to distribute electricity generated at locations across Europe with the best solar and wind resources.

But the cost penalties incurred by smaller systems remain low if suppliers are able to balance fluctuations in electricity generation across countries and regions. In this case, grid operators can cooperate with partners at the national and regional levels to balance fluctuations by sharing electricity with neighbouring grids rather than deploying costly storage technologies or curtailing electricity generation from wind and solar plants.

The creation of a well performing European energy market could reduce cost penalties incurred by small-scale systems to below 20% compared with a continental supply system. According to the authors, this finding supports current efforts to establish a European electricity market and expand the network of cross-border inter-connectors linking national systems, which help to balance fluctuations.

Infrastructure requirements vary significantly

According to the study, the location of electricity generation infrastructure does not significantly affect the cost of a completely renewable electricity supply. “However, location significantly impacts infrastructure choices, especially with respect to the question of whether more generation or transmission infrastructure is required.

In light of this, the preferred size of power generation systems should be clarified quickly in order to accelerate the energy transition,” recommends co-author Johan Lilliestam (IASS Potsdam/University of Potsdam).

Several solutions are feasible, ranging from a more continental system in which electricity generation is concentrated in the best locations through to numerous smaller, local systems in which electricity is generated close to consumers.

Read the study here.