4.6.1 Optional further learning material for Managing renewable variability and planning the energy transition
If you would like to learn more about some of the topics introduced in this modules material, please look at some of the following links.
Video 4.1
- “Balancing Europe’s wind-power output through spatial deployment informed by weather regimes” (Grams et al., 2017) develops the idea of spreading wind farms across Europe in a manner informed by weather patterns to smooth the overall electricity generation profile, as explained in the video
- The concept of using a large continental grid to balance variability is much older, discussed for example in Battaglini et al. (2009), “Development of SuperSmart Grids for a more efficient utilisation of electricity from renewable sources”
Video 4.2
- This study, “Projecting the Future Levelized Cost of Electricity Storage Technologies” (Schmidt et al., 2019) develops an in-depth analysis of which areas specific electricity storage technologies – like batteries or hydrogen – are most attractive for.
- IRENA has compiled an systematic (if now somewhat dated, from 2017) overview, “Electricity storage and renewables: Costs and markets to 2030”
- Relevant not only for storage, but often a topic when it comes to batteries and Lithium: requirements for raw materials and whether they are problematic, on which the IEA has a report from 2021.
Video 4.3
- The IEA has a 2021 report that says, in summary: More efforts on developing demand response will be needed.
- “The sector coupling concept: A critical review”, Ramsebner et al. (2020)
Video 4.4
- “Is 100% renewable energy realistic? Here’s what we know” (Vox, 2017, a good summary despite being dated)
- “What We Know—and Do Not Know—About Achieving a National-Scale 100% Renewable Electric Grid”, NREL, 2021
- “Energy systems modeling for twenty-first century energy challenges” explains more about what energy system models are and how they can and cannot be used.
- “Energy scientists must show their workings” explains why it is important that whenever energy system models are used to justify planning or implementation decisions, they are made fully transparent and openly available.
Video 4.5
- The paper that explains the results from the case study in more detail (and the interactive web application to explore the results).
- You can find out more about the free and open-source Calliope energy modelling software developed by our team on its website.
- Follow updates on the SEEDS project to find out more about how we are developing the concepts explained in the lecture further, to co-develop energy transition pathways together with the people making decisions and impacted by those decisions.