Toward 24/7 CFE

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This is a research cooperation between TU Berlin and Google. All project deliverables are open source and available on GitHub.

View the Project on GitHub Irieo/247cfe.github.io

On 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Procurement in Europe

About

The climate change problem drives a global effort to rapidly decarbonise electricity systems across the globe. Many public and private energy buyers join this effort and highlight their sustainable credentials by procuring renewable energy through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). PPAs typically allow for renewable energy to match supply and demand on average over a long period of time. A growing number of public and private energy buyers are interested in 24/7 carbon-free energy (CFE) matching, which means that every kilowatt-hour of electricity consumption is met by carbon-free sources at all times.

We use energy system modeling to investigate the means, costs, and system-level impacts of 24/7 carbon-free energy matching. There are three working packages in the project, each of which looks at a specific aspect in depth. Working package 1 examines the costs and means of pursuing different clean electricity procurement strategies in the European context. Additionally, we examine how the 24/7 clean energy matching affects the rest of the European electricity system. The aim of working package 2 is to analyze the role of space-time load shifting in reducing the resources and costs of 24/7 CFE matching; we also explore the signals companies can use to shape their load. Working package 3 examines the role of 24/7 CFE in accelerating advanced clean energy technologies.

This project is done in a spirit of open and reproducible research. We use only publicly available input data. The whole scientific workflow from the raw input data to optimized electricity system, visualizations and compilation of individual studies is available at GitHub.

Working packages

Package 1: System-level impacts of 24/7 CFE procurement in Europe

In this study, we investigate both the means and costs of pursuing different clean electricity procurement strategies for companies in a selection of European countries. We also explore how the 24/7 clean energy procurement affects the rest of the European electricity system.

Study:

Media & public outreach:

Research talks & scientific outreach:

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Package 2: The value of space-time load-shifting flexibility for 24/7 CFE procurement

In this study, we explore how and why space-time load-shifting flexibility can be used to meet high 24/7 carbon-free energy targets, as well as what potential benefits it may offer to 24/7 participants and to the rest of the energy system. To answer these questions, we expand the mathematical model of 24/7 CFE procurement developed in the previous work by incorporating spatial and temporal demand flexibility provided by electricity consumers that follow 24/7 carbon-free energy goals. The space-time flexibility is based on the example of data centers; the findings related to temporal flexibility are generally applicable to a wide range of companies with flexible demand.

Study:

Media & public outreach:

Research talks & scientific outreach:

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Package 3: On the role of 24/7 CFE in accelerating advanced clean energy technologies.

Work in progress. We aim for Q2 2024.

Impressum

Dr. Iegor Riepin
Prof. Dr. Tom Brown
Technische Universität Berlin
Department of Digital Transformation in Energy Systems
Institute of Energy Technology
Faculty III
Einsteinufer 25 (TA 8)
10587 Berlin