Transition towards a renewable energy infrastructure: spatial interdependencies and stakeholder preferences

Höfer, Tim Moritz; Madlener, Reinhard (Thesis advisor); von Nitzsch, Rüdiger (Thesis advisor)

1. Auflage. - Aachen : E.ON Energy Research Center, RWTH Aachen University (2020)
Book, Dissertation / PhD Thesis

In: E.ON Energy Research Center ; FCN, Institute for Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior 79
Page(s)/Article-Nr.: 1 Online-Ressource (117 Seiten) : Illustrationen, Diagramme

Dissertation, RWTH Aachen University, 2020

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the past and the expected future impacts of the energy transition in Germany on the electricity infrastructure. The first part of the dissertation examines the costs for reducing the output of renewables in order to maintain the stability of the electricity infrastructure - the so-called renewable energy curtailment costs. This part employs a spatial econometric model to estimate the regionally varying curtailment costs of different renewable energy technologies. The second part evaluates four possible future energy transition pathways by taking multiple stakeholder preferences into account. It establishes a participatory decision-making framework by using Value-Focused Thinking and Multi-Attribute Utility Theory. The key finding of the first part is that wind energy systems constitute the main driver for the rising curtailment costs. The political recommendation derived from this is to set different regional price signals for renewables. One insight of the second part of the dissertation is that an energy transition as envisaged by the German transmission system operators is considered as not sufficient for the stakeholders involved. Instead, the stakeholders prefer an energy transition with more ambitious climate protection targets that is internationally well-coordinated and that fosters citizen participation.

Institutions

• E.ON Energy Research Center [080052]
• Chair of Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior [816110]