Introducing a tool to evaluate variable renewable energy droughts
Variable renewable energy sources (VRE) are pivotal for decarbonizing energy systems. With increasing VRE deployment, variability issues driven by extreme weather events become more pronounced. Long-lasting periods of very limited VRE availability (‘VRE droughts’) add pressure to renewable energy systems, especially in times of peak demand. Given the dependence on weather conditions, VRE droughts are not limited to a specific region but vary largely across space and time. In this talk, I will discuss distinct definitions of VRE droughts and introduce a novel tool for systematic evaluation. Based on preliminary results of a European and Australian case study, I will discuss key indicators, e.g., duration, frequency, and cross-regional correlation. Insights illustrate the crucial and challenging aspects of resilient renewable energy systems and their role in robust energy systems modeling and planning.
Martin Kittel is a research associate at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) as well as a Ph.D. candidate at the DIW Berlin Graduate Center and Berlin Technical University. His research focuses on the model-based analysis of the decarbonization of European electricity markets and the role of flexibility options for the integration of variability renewable energy. Martin holds degrees in Business Management (M.Sc.) and Business Administration and Economics (B.Sc.) from Dresden Technical University, and spent two semesters at Teesside University in the UK.