Demand for flexibility in the power system under different shares of renewable generation

In 2014 EU leaders agreed on a new framework for 2030 for climate change and energy policies. By 2030 targets renewable power in the European market should be at least 27% of the EU's energy consumption. This major change will require the deployment of flexible technologies to ensure stability and security of supply. In this paper we study the role of electricity storage and renewable power curtailment as possible options in providing flexibility when high shares of renewable enter the system. We simulate the Italian power market with a power dispatch model developed in GAMS. Our results for the benchmark scenario show that increases in shares of renewables are associated with increases in the demand for flexibility. When we add one storage plant in three zones at a time — SUD, SICI, NORD — demand for flexibility, respectively does not change, reduces and increases compared to the benchmark.