Need for hydro storage due to the challenges arising from expansion of PV electricity generation
Date Issued
2025-01
Author(s)
Marija Lazarevikj, Darko Babunski, Viktor Iliev and Zoran Markov
DOI
doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1442/1/012004
Abstract
Hydropower has a crucial role in the clean energy transition (CET) due
to the low-carbon electricity production, the sustainability, reliability and
flexibility it provides. Both the fast response and storage potential make
hydropower a basis for integrating wind and solar power whose output vary
depending on external conditions. Many European countries have considerable
remained feasible potential for hydropower development, among which is North
Macedonia (MK). As a member of the Energy Community, MK aligns with European
energy policies by adopting and implementing EU energy directives and
regulations. The energy scenarios illustrate the country's energy transition,
forecasting its reaction to EU policies and government efforts aimed at achieving
a net-zero economy by 2050. However, the country's cost-competitive potential is
constrained by factors like low wind speeds and inaccessible terrain in certain
regions, making photovoltaics (PV) the fastest growing renewable energy source
(RES) technology. Thus, the electricity production from PVs in North Macedonia
experiences exponential growth throughout the last four years. The challenges
arising from PV expansion are imposing the need for improvement of the energy
system flexibility to accommodate the new and highly fluctuating demands. Hence,
hydropower could play a major role as dispatchable power source to back up
variable PV and balance variations from PV generation. Due to this, the current
state of RES capacity and generated electricity with focus on hydropower in MK
has been analysed in this paper. Subsequently, an investigation of the possibilities
for increasing the electricity production from hydropower to add flexibility to the
power system in MK is performed and finally the related challenges have been
presented. The steps towards higher flexibility of the energy system in North Macedonia are
analysed including usage of existing hydropower plants (HPPs), but also
construction of new storage HPPs and pumped storage HPPs for peak demand
management and avoiding blackouts under critical circumstances. Some of the
existing HPPs can be upgraded through equipment refurbishment and storage
increase to gain flexibility. Due to being a technology able to address the flexibility
challenges posed by the rise in photovoltaic (PV) installations, pumped storage
hydropower was also recognised as a possibility. According to the energy strategy,
construction of both large and small HPPs based on the remaining technically and
economically feasible potential is envisaged. Small HPPs are prioritized due to their technical feasibility and lower investments. Financial support mechanisms are introduced to stimulate small HPPs and construction conditions are already established for some of them, however, an adjustment in accordance with the administrative requirements in certain areas is needed to ensure environmental sustainability. Moreover, integrating innovative technologies into hydropower can significantly enhance the energy transition at the national level, particularly by improving efficiency, flexibility, and environmental sustainability. Various challenges related to environmental protection, lifetime and maintenance of HPPs components so as economical limitations are being discussed.
to the low-carbon electricity production, the sustainability, reliability and
flexibility it provides. Both the fast response and storage potential make
hydropower a basis for integrating wind and solar power whose output vary
depending on external conditions. Many European countries have considerable
remained feasible potential for hydropower development, among which is North
Macedonia (MK). As a member of the Energy Community, MK aligns with European
energy policies by adopting and implementing EU energy directives and
regulations. The energy scenarios illustrate the country's energy transition,
forecasting its reaction to EU policies and government efforts aimed at achieving
a net-zero economy by 2050. However, the country's cost-competitive potential is
constrained by factors like low wind speeds and inaccessible terrain in certain
regions, making photovoltaics (PV) the fastest growing renewable energy source
(RES) technology. Thus, the electricity production from PVs in North Macedonia
experiences exponential growth throughout the last four years. The challenges
arising from PV expansion are imposing the need for improvement of the energy
system flexibility to accommodate the new and highly fluctuating demands. Hence,
hydropower could play a major role as dispatchable power source to back up
variable PV and balance variations from PV generation. Due to this, the current
state of RES capacity and generated electricity with focus on hydropower in MK
has been analysed in this paper. Subsequently, an investigation of the possibilities
for increasing the electricity production from hydropower to add flexibility to the
power system in MK is performed and finally the related challenges have been
presented. The steps towards higher flexibility of the energy system in North Macedonia are
analysed including usage of existing hydropower plants (HPPs), but also
construction of new storage HPPs and pumped storage HPPs for peak demand
management and avoiding blackouts under critical circumstances. Some of the
existing HPPs can be upgraded through equipment refurbishment and storage
increase to gain flexibility. Due to being a technology able to address the flexibility
challenges posed by the rise in photovoltaic (PV) installations, pumped storage
hydropower was also recognised as a possibility. According to the energy strategy,
construction of both large and small HPPs based on the remaining technically and
economically feasible potential is envisaged. Small HPPs are prioritized due to their technical feasibility and lower investments. Financial support mechanisms are introduced to stimulate small HPPs and construction conditions are already established for some of them, however, an adjustment in accordance with the administrative requirements in certain areas is needed to ensure environmental sustainability. Moreover, integrating innovative technologies into hydropower can significantly enhance the energy transition at the national level, particularly by improving efficiency, flexibility, and environmental sustainability. Various challenges related to environmental protection, lifetime and maintenance of HPPs components so as economical limitations are being discussed.
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