Impacts of High PV Penetration on Slovenia’s Electricity Grid: Energy Modeling and Life Cycle Assessment

Jože Dimnik, Jelena Topić Božič (), Ante Čikić and Simon Muhič
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Jože Dimnik: Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy, Langusova cesta 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jelena Topić Božič: Institute for Renewable Energy and Efficient Exergy Use, INOVEKS d.o.o, Cesta 2. grupe odredov 17, 1295 Ivančna Gorica, Slovenia
Ante Čikić: Department of Mechatronics, University North, 104. Brigade 3, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia
Simon Muhič: Institute for Renewable Energy and Efficient Exergy Use, INOVEKS d.o.o, Cesta 2. grupe odredov 17, 1295 Ivančna Gorica, Slovenia

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: The complexities of high PV penetration in the electricity grid in Slovenia based on targets proposed in national energy and climate plan were explored. Scenarios modeled an increase in installation power from 1800 MW in 2030 to 8000 MW in 2050. They were analyzed using energy modeling and life cycle assessment to assess the technical and environmental aspects of high PV grid penetration. The results showed that the increase in PV production from 2200 GWh (2030) to 11,090 GWh (2050) showed an unfavorable course of excess electricity in the system, resulting in the need for short-term and long-term storage strategies and exports of electricity. LCA analysis showed that penetration of a high share of PV results in a decrease in the impact category of global warming, which is higher in 2050 green scenarios that phase out coal and lignite electricity sources (80.5% decrease) compared to the 2020 baseline scenario. The increase in mineral resource scarcity can be observed with an increase in PV share when comparing the 2030 (50%) and 2050 (150%) BAU scenarios with the baseline scenario (2020). Factors such as environmental impacts, technical challenges, and the impact on the grid must be considered when implementing a decarbonization strategy.

Keywords: photovoltaic electricity production; sustainable energy system; life cycle assessment; Slovenia; electricity production (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: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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