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Economic Analysis of Sustainable Spatial Allocation of Energy Systems: A Theoretical Examination and an Agent-Based Model of Renewable Energy Systems

The question how a least-cost spatial allocation of sustainable electricity infrastructure may look like using different decision-making procedures (markets, different kinds of land-use and grid regulations) has not yet been analysed explicitly. We measure the sustainability of emerging energy landscapes providing power from renewable energy sources (RES) by an overall welfare function also comprising all kinds of space-related disutilities, i.e. spatial externalities - be they site-specific or related to the distance to a residential area (consumer centre).

The presented agent-based model (ABM) concept aims at assessing different policy scenarios to govern the land-use for energetic purposes under the constraint of ensuring the electricity supply for a virtual landscape with RES. To derive optimal spatial allocation an agent-based modelling approach is implemented, which includes a virtual landscape, three settlements as demand centres and profit-oriented producers of renewable power. For the design of the electricity grid and the calculation of grid-related reinforcement costs a load-flow model is applied, being also able to map grid externalities during the RES expansion in space.

The model allows RES producers to choose profit-maximising cells for plant installations until the given demand for power of the virtual landscape is met. Different policy scenarios allocate particular costs to agents (e.g. grid reinforcement costs, spatial externalities) or restrict the land-use with respect to ecological or social restraints. Furthermore, consumer centres have the possibility to follow own particular regional strategies, to increase their individual benefit. The overall efficiency of allocation (total cost level) as well as the distributional fairness (regional net costs) are evaluated for the policy scenarios and the regional strategies.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:16160
Date25 August 2017
CreatorsLauf, Thomas
ContributorsUniversität Leipzig
Source SetsHochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion, doc-type:doctoralThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, doc-type:Text
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

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