Large-Scale Solar Electricity Networks and the Energy Transition

Dear Colleagues,

Solar photovoltaics (PV) have become the fastest-growing energy technology due to cost decreases and technological advances [1]. Together, the scale of solar resources and low lifetime greenhouse gas emissions of this technology make PV an appealing method to meet a large fraction of global electricity demand, and to further electrify heating, transportation, and industry [2]. We are inviting contributions that critically assess pathways to the large-scale usage of solar electricity.

A major obstacle to large-scale usage of PV is solar intermittency due to weather and the daily and seasonal cycles. Recent work has shown the potential for batteries as well as combinations of different renewables to eliminate intermittency [3-10]. Mitigating seasonal intermittency at low cost poses challenges, however, as seasonal storage or overcapacity for winter can dramatically increase costs [11-12]. A few recent studies have designed optimized networks linking PV electricity generation across large areas with high voltage transmission direct current (HVDC) lines, including across both hemispheres to balance seasonal intermittency [11-13]. The Special Issue will advance understanding of what such large-scale renewable networks could look like and how they could be operated. This includes cost-comparisons, especially between interhemispheric solar networks and regional networks combining different renewables, necessary advancements in HVDC transmission and submarine cables [14,15], and cost estimates for interhemispheric networks [11,16].

The Special Issue will also expand current knowledge on the larger requirements and impacts of large-scale utilization of renewable energy sources, in particular, solar PV. We are interested in the economics of large-scale renewable electricity networks [17], investment mechanisms and infrastructure design [16-20], risk management [21], international agreements and operating schemes [22,23], and associated changes in the organization of the electricity market [24-26]. We invite articles that contribute to a deeper understanding of requirements for cross-national electricity trade [24-29], welfare and distributional impacts, and the role of distributed renewable energy within a cross-national grid. Electricity markets are no longer closed systems within national or regional boundaries, as evidenced by the European power grid [20,21,25,26].

We also invite contributions that explore the changing role of market players, such as electric utilities, political bodies, or new actors like aggregators [27] given new opportunities and requirements arising from the large-scale grid-integration of intermittent renewables and consumer participation in electricity generation. Previous work has explored strategies to better match supply and demand in a high-renewable system, including time-of-use rates, utility-scale and behind-the-meter storage, intelligent appliances, and smart grids [27-35]. For this Special Issue, we are interested in deepening current knowledge on how these approaches can enable the transition to electricity systems that are powered mainly by renewables. The changing role of diverse market players also shows the need for a holistic approach towards the complex process of the ongoing energy transition. Such an approach should include socio-economic and technological aspects but also an understanding of human factors such as acceptance and willingness to participate in the energy transition, as well as possibilities for compromise-oriented policy solutions [28]. We welcome contributions on the “soft factors” of the energy transition such as human behavior and institutional frameworks, including the potential for participatory governance [29].

References:

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Dr. Iris Grossmann
Dr. Nadejda Komendantova
Guest Editors

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• Large-scale solar electricity networks
• energy transition
• solar photovoltaics
• solar intermittency
• international electricity market
• international electricity trade
• high voltage direct current (HVDC)
• grid-integration of renewables
• renewable energy
• energy storage
• changing role of electric utilities
• human factors for energy transition
• institutional frameworks for energy transition
• participatory governance for energy transition