Current state and optimal development of the renewable electricity generation mix in Spain

Abstract

The aim of this study is firstly to make a critical evaluation of the present situation of the power system in Spain. The other main objective is to make an analysis of the optimal mix for the intensive deployment of variable renewable energies (VRES). VRES should provide by 2030 about 45-50% of the total electricity demand so as to comply with the European Union (EU) Directives and the Paris 2016 Climate Agreements. As we will show, these levels of VRES would create important problems of surplus and needed backup energies, especially in the lack of sufficient electricity storage facilities. By applying linear programming optimization techniques we try in this paper to make optimal the large deployment of VRES. This general approach leads us to the analysis of several high-VRES Scenarios depending on the degree by which the electricity demand would be covered by VRES. For some of the most viable Scenarios to be implemented around 2030, we have also studied the statistical distribution of slacks (surpluses and backups) in order that the demand could always be covered. Finally, a discussion is made comparing, whenever possible, our results with those previously published for other European.