Decarbonization of the European energy system with strong sector couplings

Abstract:

Ambitious targets for renewable energy and CO2 taxation both represent political instruments for decarbonization of the energy system. We model a high number of coupled electricity and heating systems, where the primary sources of CO2 neutral energy are from variable renewable energy sources (VRES). The model includes hourly dispatch of all technologies for a full year for every country in Europe. The amount of renewable energy and the level of CO2 tax are fixed exogenously, while the cost-optimal composition of energy generation, conversion, transmission and storage technologies and the corresponding CO2 emissions are calculated. Even for high penetrations of VRES, a significant CO2 tax of more than 100 EUR/tCO2 is required to limit the combined CO2 emissions from the sectors to less than 5% of 1990 levels, because curtailment of VRES, combustion of fossil fuels and inefficient conversion technologies are economically favored despite the presence of abundant VRES. A sufficiently high CO2 tax results in the more efficient use of VRES by means of heat pumps and hot water storage, in particular. We conclude that a renewable energy target on its own is not sufficient; in addition, a CO2 tax is required to decarbonize the electricity and heating sectors and incentivize the least cost combination of flexible and efficient energy conversion and storage.