Joint centralized and distributed electricity generation expansion in a decarbonized scenario: the Spanish case

Abstract

Power systems of most EU countries will face substantial changes partly caused by both the EU Clean Energy Package and the expected increment of active customers. This works aims to analyze the impact of these two factors on the evolution of the investments on generation capacity and the operation of these assets. An hourly-resolution generation expansion model based on an expenses’ minimization with both centralized and distributed generation expansion and operation is used. Four cases studies focusing on the period 2018-2047, designed to comply with the EU energy and environmental objectives, are presented. Results show a strong synergy among battery costs and solar photovoltaic investments, while wind power seems to be better complemented by peaker thermal units.