Optimal energy storage configuration to support 100 % renewable energy for Indonesia

Abstract

This study presents a renewable energy (RE) optimization study to model the pathway to achieve 100 % carbon abatement, focussing on options for storage, using Indonesia's national electricity grid as a case study. Utilizing the PLEXOS energy simulation tool, the study covers the period 2021–2045. It employs an optimization of cost minimization function approach, encompassing investment, operation, maintenance, and unserved energy. The study integrates various components, including electricity supply and demand, transmission, renewable sources, and energy storage, while considering operational, build, and renewable energy target constraints. A range of scenarios are explored, varying in RE targets, battery capacities, and whether to include open-cycle gas turbines. The key novelty of this study is considering multiple versions of battery storage, with different options for the number of hours of storage. The findings indicate that higher RE targets lead to increased total installed nameplate capacity, with a significant portion from battery storage. In the early phases, batteries with 2-hour of capacity prioritized for short-term needs. As the focus shifts to more extended targets, batteries with a 4-hour capacity are recognized as more cost-effective and become the predominant choice. Over time, the least-cost strategy evolves to incorporate 10-hour capacity batteries to meet long-term energy storage requirements. To achieve a 100 % RE target by 2045, it is estimated that alongside every 100 MW of wind and solar capacity, there should be a corresponding 42 MW of energy storage. However, interpretations of these findings must consider the limited temporal resolution, uncertainties in demand and cost, and challenges related to grid inertia from energy storage, which may affect the stability and feasibility of the proposed solutions. This research offers crucial insights for energy policy and infrastructure development in renewable energy and storage system implementation.