Sustaining reliability while implementing intermittency: what shares in the power mix?
Résumé
We propose to assess to what extent smart solutions associated with storage can facilitate the spread of high shares of non dispatchable renewable energy while maintaining a given level of reliability. We evaluate the potential contribution of demand response (DR) and storage technology to the power dynamics in future electricity systems. In order to address significant share of intermittency in the generation mix, a dynamic reliability constraint on kinetic energy was endogenized in the technical optimum TIMES model. Dedicated to La Reunion Island, which aims to produce electricity using 100% renewable energy sources by 2030, we demonstrate that (i) higher shares of intermittent sources weaken reliability of supply and can be counter balanced through demand response solutions; (ii) The potential contribution of storage technology, especially NaS, to the power dynamics and the reliability has been demonstrated; and (iii) A high share of non dispatchable renewable plants (around 50%) can be considered without jeopardize power transmission, provided appropriate investments in storage are made. Insights will be given for the case of France.