Use of the PERSEUS Models to Analyse the Effects of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Production

Abstract

During the last decade, the European energy supply sector has faced far-reaching structural changes that have led to new market structures and a new competitive environment. The current discussion on emission reduction targets and climate change mitigation strategies is likely to cause new changes in the competitive environment of energy supply companies. Renewable energies play a significant role to achieve these targets. The energy models described in this paper provide powerful analysis options that permit an examination of the effects of a large-scale integration of renewable energies into the European energy system. To realise this objective, the energy system analysis models follow a technology-based modelling approach employing linear programming methods. In this paper, a version of the PERSEUS model under development in an application to analyse the influence of a large-scale integration of fluctuating wind energy into the European power system is presented. Furthermore, a second application, where two versions of the PERSEUS model are currently combined to determine which new possibilities and tasks result from the changing capacity structure for traditional water power plants in the Alps, is presented as well.