Analysis of a total integration of renewable energy through a dynamic virtual power plant model and the use of hydrogen as a method of energy production stabilization
The growing need for change in the energy vector, the increasing popularity of renewable energies, as well as the European regulations to achieve zero emissions by 2050 (currently at 21.8% in Europe with a projection of 42.5% by 2030), prompt the analysis of scenarios for meeting the annual demand in three autonomous communities (Andalusia and Valencia) while considering the current electric grid and a new scenario with the most optimal distribution. This analysis involves simplifying the grid and utilizing a distributed virtual power plant (DVPP). These scenarios consider increasing the share of renewables up to 99% and implementing hydrogen-based storage technologies to evaluate their economic impact on the levelized cost of energy and how it increases as the share of renewables grows. Prices for each available technology have been obtained to achieve a more realistic approximation. Variables such as capital expenditures (CAPEX), operating expenses (OPEX), fuel costs where applicable, and replacement costs have been considered, as the project analyses the system with a 50-year outlook, and some technologies have a lifespan shorter than this period. The obtained results will be used to analyse the capacities of hydrogen plants in terms of power and storage, as well as their behaviour in balancing the grid as a supporting technology for intermittent generation sources such as wind and photovoltaic, and for managing potential energy surpluse
