Distributed photovoltaics provides key benefits for a highly renewable European energy system

TY - JOUR

T1 - Distributed photovoltaics provides key benefits for a highly renewable European energy system

AU - Rahdan, Parisa

AU - Zeyen, Elisabeth

AU - Gallego-Castillo, Cristobal

AU - Victoria, Marta

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors

PY - 2024/4

Y1 - 2024/4

N2 - Distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are projected to be a key contributor to future energy landscape, but are often poorly represented in energy models due to their distributed nature. They have higher costs compared to utility PV, but offer additional advantages, e.g., in terms of social acceptance. Here, we model the European power network with a high spatial resolution of 181 nodes and a 2-hourly temporal resolution. We use a simplified model of distribution and transmission networks that allows the representation of power distribution losses and differentiates between utility and distributed generation and storage. Three scenarios, including a sector-coupled scenario with heating, transport, and industry are investigated. The results show that incorporating distributed solar PV leads to total system cost reduction in all scenarios (1.4% for power sector, 1.9–3.7% for sector-coupled). The achieved cost reductions primarily stem from demand peak reduction and lower distribution capacity requirements because of self-consumption from distributed solar. This also enhances self-sufficiency for countries. The role of distributed PV is noteworthy in the sector-coupled scenario and is helped by other distributed technologies including heat pumps and electric vehicle batteries.

AB - Distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are projected to be a key contributor to future energy landscape, but are often poorly represented in energy models due to their distributed nature. They have higher costs compared to utility PV, but offer additional advantages, e.g., in terms of social acceptance. Here, we model the European power network with a high spatial resolution of 181 nodes and a 2-hourly temporal resolution. We use a simplified model of distribution and transmission networks that allows the representation of power distribution losses and differentiates between utility and distributed generation and storage. Three scenarios, including a sector-coupled scenario with heating, transport, and industry are investigated. The results show that incorporating distributed solar PV leads to total system cost reduction in all scenarios (1.4% for power sector, 1.9–3.7% for sector-coupled). The achieved cost reductions primarily stem from demand peak reduction and lower distribution capacity requirements because of self-consumption from distributed solar. This also enhances self-sufficiency for countries. The role of distributed PV is noteworthy in the sector-coupled scenario and is helped by other distributed technologies including heat pumps and electric vehicle batteries.

KW - Distributed generation

KW - Distribution grid

KW - Energy system modeling

KW - Home batteries

KW - Rooftop solar PV

U2 - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.122721

DO - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.122721

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85184510706

SN - 0306-2619

VL - 360

JO - Applied Energy

JF - Applied Energy

M1 - 122721

ER -