Baseload power plants are not essential for future power systems

Cell Reports Physical Science, vol. 7, pp. 103050

Abstract

The transition to decarbonized energy systems has fueled a controversial debate over the necessity of traditional "baseload" power. Skepticism remains regarding the reliability and economic feasibility of power systems relying mainly on cheap variable renewable energy (VRE) sources. Addressing this, the German Academies' project "Energy Systems of the Future" (ESYS) analyzed the role of baseload power plants within a decarbonized, continental-scale energy system. Their findings indicate that a secure, net-zero European electricity system is technically robust and economically viable when based on VRE paired with extensive flexibility, storage, and grid interconnections, without requiring new baseload capacity. The integration of new low-carbon baseload technologies, such as nuclear fission or fusion, natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS), or geothermal energy, has a marginal impact on overall system costs. While low-cost baseload technologies could be efficiently integrated to achieve high utilization, their future role is contingent on achieving cost reductions beyond current realities.

Authors 21

1. Anke Weidlich corresponding

   University of Freiburg

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Freiburg, INATECH, Emmy-Noether-Straße 2, 79110 Freiburg, Germany

2. Philipp Stöcker corresponding

   Acatech

   Affiliation as printed

   ESYS Project Office, acatech, Georgenstraße 25, 10117 Berlin, Germany

3. Karen Pittel
   Affiliation as printed

   ifo Institute, Center for Energy, Climate, and Resources, Poschingerstraße 5, 81679 München, Germany

4. Christoph Luderer

   Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Breslauer Straße 48, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany

5. Frank-Detlef Drake
   Affiliation as printed

   E.ON Energy Research Center gGmbH, Mathieustraße 10, 52074 Aachen, Germany

6. Berit Erlach

   Acatech

   Affiliation as printed

   ESYS Project Office, acatech, Georgenstraße 25, 10117 Berlin, Germany

7. Manfred Fischedick

   Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

   Affiliation as printed

   Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Döppersberg 19, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany

8. J. Hanson

   Technische Universität Darmstadt

   Affiliation as printed

   Technical University of Darmstadt, Landgraf-Georg-Straße 4, 64283 Darmstadt, Germany

9. Hans-Martin Henning

   University of Freiburg · Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Heidenhofstraße 2, 79110 Freiburg, Germany

   University of Freiburg, INATECH, Emmy-Noether-Straße 2, 79110 Freiburg, Germany

10. Wilhelm Kiewitt

    50Hertz Transmission GmbH (Germany)

    Affiliation as printed

    50Hertz Transmission GmbH, Heidestraße 2, 10557 Berlin, Germany

11. Jochen Kreusel
    Affiliation as printed

    Hitachi Energy Germany AG, Havellandstraße 10-14, 68309 Mannheim, Germany

12. Albert Moser Aachen Institute of High Voltage Equipment and Grids

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalization and Energy Economics, RWTH Aachen University, Schinkelstraße 6, 52056 Aachen, Germany

13. W. Münch

    Energie Baden-Württemberg (Germany)

    Affiliation as printed

    EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, Durlacher Allee 93, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany

14. Albrecht Reuter

    Fichtner (Germany)

    Affiliation as printed

    Fichtner IT Consulting GmbH, Sarweystraße 3, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany

15. Dirk Uwe Sauer Aachen Institute for Power Generation and Storage Systems (PGS)

    RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Power Generation and Storage Systems (PGS), E.ON ERC, RWTH Aachen University, Mathieustraße 10, 52074 Aachen, Germany

16. Wolf-Peter Schill

    German Institute for Economic Research

    Affiliation as printed

    German Institute for Economic Research, Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Strasse 58, 10117 Berlin, Germany

17. Frank Sensfuß

    Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Breslauer Straße 48, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany

18. Hartmut Spliethoff

    Technical University of Munich

    Affiliation as printed

    Technical University of Munich, Chair of Energy Systems, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85747 Garching, Germany

19. Cyril Stephanos

    Acatech

    Affiliation as printed

    ESYS Project Office, acatech, Georgenstraße 25, 10117 Berlin, Germany

20. Christoph Weber

    University of Duisburg-Essen

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Duisburg-Essen, Chair for Management Science and Energy Economics, Universitätsstraße 12, 45141 Essen, Germany

21. Sven Wurbs

    Acatech

    Affiliation as printed

    ESYS Project Office, acatech, Georgenstraße 25, 10117 Berlin, Germany