Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISI

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  • Publication
    Supply curves of electricity-based gaseous fuels in the MENA region
    ( 2021)
    Lux, Benjamin orcid-logo
    ;
    Gegenheimer, Johanna
    ;
    Franke, Katja
    ;
    Sensfuß, Frank
    ;
    Pfluger, Benjamin
    The utilization of electricity-based fuels (e-fuels) is a potential strategy component for achieving greenhouse gas neutrality in the European Union (EU). As renewable electricity production sites in the EU itself might be scarce and relatively expensive, importing e-fuels from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) could be a complementary and cost-efficient option. Using the energy system model Enertile, supply curves for hydrogen and synthetic methane in the MENA region are determined for the years 2030 and 2050 to evaluate this import option techno-economically. The model optimizes investments in renewable electricity production, e-fuel production chains, and local electricity transport infrastructures. Analyses of renewable electricity generation potentials show that the MENA region in particular has large low-cost solar power potentials. Optimization results in Enertile show for a weighted average cost of capital of 7% that substantial hydrogen production starts above 100 e/MWhH2 in 2030 and above 70 e/MWhH2 in 2050. Substantial synthetic methane production in the model results starts above 170 e/MWhCH4 in 2030 and above 120 e/MWhCH4 in 2050. The most important cost component in both fuel production routes is electricity. Taking into account transport cost surcharges, in Europe synthetic methane from MENA is available above 180 e/MWhCH4 in 2030 and above 130 e/MWhCH4 in 2050. Hydrogen exports from MENA to Europe cost above 120 e/MWhH2 in 2030 and above 90 e/MWhH2 in 2050. If exported to Europe, both e-fuels are more expensive to produce and transport in liquefied form than in gaseous form. A comparison of European hydrogen supply curves with hydrogen imports from MENA for 2050 reveals that imports can only be economically efficient if the two following conditions are met: Firstly, similar interest rates prevail in the EU and MENA; secondly, hydrogen transport costs converge at the cheap end of the range in the current literature. Apart from this, a shortage of land for renewable electricity generation in Europe may lead to hydrogen imports from MENA. This analysis is intended to assist in guiding European industrial and energy policy, planning import infrastructure needs, and providing an analytical framework for project developers in the MENA region.
  • Publication
    Factors affecting the calculation of wind power potentials: A case study of China
    ( 2021)
    Franke, Katja
    ;
    Sensfuß, Frank
    ;
    Deac, Gerda orcid-logo
    ;
    Kleinschmitt, Christoph
    ;
    Ragwitz, Mario
    In order to mitigate global climate change and air pollution, the Chinese government has assigned high priority to expanding low-carbon power generation in China. Recent studies have shown that wind power is one of the most promising renewable energy option in China. Although many studies have estimated the generation potential of onshore wind power, their results vary widely from 1783 TWh to 39,000 TWh. Therefore, we examine the different assumptions in these papers and identify three main factors influencing the results. The three influencing factors are: weather data set, land utilisation factor, and wind turbine configuration. For our model-based analysis, we define a reference scenario which is used to compare the results. Our analysis shows using a different weather data set increases the generation potential to roughly 35,000 TWh. This is 54% higher than the generation potential of the reference scenario. The land utilisation factor also has a large influence, ranging between -10% and -51%. The studies' assumptions and data should be subjected to careful scrutiny, as the calculated wind power potentials are widely used to develop decarbonisation strategies for the energy system.