Energy efficiency instead of long-term storage

Date:
November 2, 2021
Source:
DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Summary:
Incorporating energy efficiency measures can reduce the amount
of storage needed to power the nation's buildings entirely with
renewable energy, according to a recent analysis.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Incorporating energy efficiency measures can reduce the amount of storage needed to power the nation's buildings entirely with renewable energy, according to analysis conducted by researchers at the U.S. Department
of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).


==========================================================================
As more communities plan to eventually rely on 100% renewable energy,
the researchers offer a strategy that could guide their paths -- one
that shifts away from long-duration storage.

"Minimizing long-duration storage is a key element in trying to achieve
the target cost-effectively," said Sammy Houssainy, co-author with
William Livingood of a new paper that outlines an approach to 100%
renewables. The research paper, "Optimal Strategies for a Cost-Effective
and Reliable 100% Renewable Electrical Grid," appears in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy.

The researchers considered solar and wind as the source of renewable
energy, given that most plans for meeting the 100% target take those
into account. They also used the Department of Energy's EnergyPlus and OpenStudio building energy modeling tools to simulate energy demand, considering such factors as building size, age, and occupancy type. Data
from the U.S. Energy Information Administration informed the scientists
about the existing building stock characteristics and energy load used
by the buildings.

Further, the researchers separated the country into five climate
zones, ranging from the hot and humid (Tampa, Florida) to the very cold (International Falls, Minnesota). The other zones encompassed the cities
of New York, El Paso, and Denver. Knowing the extremes of heating and
cooling demands in each zone enabled the researchers to select the
appropriate mix of renewable power sources to minimize any needed storage.

While varying definitions exist in the literature, for purposes of
this study the researchers define long-duration storage as energy
storage systems that meet electricity demands for more than 48-hour
durations. Therefore, long- duration energy storage provides power
days or months after the electricity is generated. However, most
long-duration storage technologies are either immature or not available everywhere. The two NREL researchers calculated reaching the last 75%
to 100% of renewable energy would result in significant increases in
costs associated with long-duration energy storage. Instead of focusing
on storage, the researchers emphasized the optimal mix of renewable
resources, oversized generation capacities, and investments in energy efficiency. The researchers note that multiple pathways exist to reach
100% renewable and, as the costs and performance of technologies change,
new pathways will emerge, but they identified a key pathway that is
achievable today.

They also determined that oversizing renewable capacities by a factor of
1.4 to 3.2 and aiming for 52% to 68% in energy savings through building
energy- efficiency measures lead to cost-optimal paths depending on
region of the country. Houssainy said making homes and offices more
energy efficient reduces the amounts of renewable resources needed,
decreases the amount of storage, and cuts transmission costs, ultimately supporting the implementation of a carbon- free energy system.

"What's included in the paper is really a multistep process to follow," Livingood said. "That process is applicable to large cities, as well small cities. Now, the end result will change, city to city, as this multistep process is followed to cost-optimally achieve the target." For example,
Tampa would generate all of its electricity from solar panels, while International Falls would receive 100% from wind turbines, the researchers calculated, in order to have the least reliance on storage.

"It is not intended to replace the need for site-specific, detailed
engineering design and planning processes for buildings, electric
grid, and energy infrastructure," Livingood said, "but we believe
that our novel calculation methodology yields overarching concepts
and conclusions that are broadly relevant and applicable. For
cost-effectively achieving 100% renewable scenarios, our newly
developed calculation methodology provides general principles that
help guide these detailed engineering design and planning processes." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
DOE/National_Renewable_Energy_Laboratory. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Sammy Houssainy, William Livingood. Optimal strategies for a cost-
effective and reliable 100% renewable electric grid. Journal
of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 2021; 13 (6): 066301 DOI:
10.1063/5.0064570 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211102131704.htm

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