arXiv subjects

Dana Kirchem

Publications and source records attributed to Dana Kirchem.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Solar prosumage under different pricing regimes: Interactions with the transmission grid

Solar prosumers, residential electricity consumers equipped with photovoltaic (PV) systems and battery storage, are transforming electricity markets. Their interactions with the transmission grid under varying tariff designs are not yet fully understood. We explore the influence of different pricing regimes on prosumer investment and dispatch decisions and their subsequent impact on the transmission grid. Using an integrated modeling approach that combines two open-source dispatch, investment and grid models, we simulate prosumage behavior in Germany's electricity market under real-time pricing or time-invariant pricing, as well as under zonal or nodal pricing. Our findings show that zonal pricing favors prosumer investments, while time-invariant pricing rather hinders it. In comparison, regional solar availability emerges as a larger driver for rooftop PV investments. The impact of prosumer strategies on grid congestion remains limited within the scope of our model-setup, in which home batteries cannot be used for energy arbitrage.

econ.GN↗

arXiv2023

Power sector effects of green hydrogen production in Germany

The use of green hydrogen can support the decarbonization of sectors which are difficult to electrify, such as industry or heavy transport. Yet, the wider power sector effects of providing green hydrogen are not well understood so far. We use an open-source electricity sector model to investigate potential power sector interactions of three alternative supply chains for green hydrogen in Germany in the year 2030. We distinguish between model settings in which Germany is modeled as an electric island versus embedded in an interconnected system with its neighboring countries, as well as settings with and without technology-specific capacity bounds on wind energy. The findings suggest that large-scale hydrogen storage can provide valuable flexibility to the power system in settings with high renewable energy shares. These benefits are more pronounced in the absence of flexibility from geographical balancing. We further find that the effects of green hydrogen production on the optimal generation portfolio strongly depend on the model assumptions regarding capacity expansion potentials. We also identify a potential distributional effect of green hydrogen production at the expense of other electricity consumers, of which policy makers should be aware.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2023

Power sector benefits of flexible heat pumps

Heat pumps play a major role in decreasing fossil fuel use in heating. They increase electricity demand, but could also foster the system integration of variable renewable energy sources. We analyze three scenarios for expanding decentralized heat pumps in Germany by 2030, focusing on the role of buffer heat storage. Using an open-source power sector model, we assess costs, capacity investments, and emissions effects. We find that investments in solar photovoltaics can cost-effectively accompany the roll-out of heat pumps in case wind power expansion potentials are limited. Results further show that short-duration heat storage substantially reduces the need for firm capacity and battery storage. Larger heat storage sizes do not substantially change the results. Increasing the number of heat pumps from 1.7 to 10 million units could annually save around a quarter of Germany's overall natural gas consumption and around half of households' building-related CO2 emissions.

econ.GN↗