Effects of Decentral Heat Pump Operation on Electricity Storage Requirements in Germany

Simon Hilpert
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Simon Hilpert: Department of Energy and Environmental Management, Europa Universität Flensburg, 24941 Flensburg, Germany

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: Several studies show that heat pumps need to play a major role for space heating and hot water supply in highly decarbonised energy systems. The degree of elasticity of this additional electricity demand can have a significant impact on the electricity system. This paper investigates the effect of decentral heat pump flexibilisation through thermal energy storage units on electricity storage investment. The analysis is carried using an open source model for the German electricity system based on the Open Energy Modelling Framework (oemof). Results highlight the importance of flexible heat pump operation in 100% renewable energy systems and relate well to findings of other existing studies. Flexibilisation of heat pumps in the German energy system can reduce the need for electricity storage units significantly. While no impact was found for systems with a share below 80% renewable energy, investment in short term storage units is reduced by up to 42–62% in systems with shares of more than 80% renewable energy. In contrast, the impact on long term electricity storage investment was comparatively low in all modelled scenarios. Conducted sensitivity analyses show that both findings are rather insensitive with regard to the available biomass for electricity supply as well as to changes in the heat demand covered by heat pumps. Economically flexible heat pump operation has only a minor effect on system costs. However, the indirect replacement of battery with thermal energy storage units is environmentally beneficial due a lower resource consumption of minerals.

Keywords: energy system modelling; 100% renewable energy systems; open science; sector coupling; heat pump; flexibility options; thermal energy storage; electricity storage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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