The renewable based electric power system as an alternative to fossil and nuclear systems

Rafał Kasperowicz , Marcin Pinczynski

Abstract

Currently, most of the energy systems in the world are based on fossil fuels. Since last decade there has been an ongoing debate about the possibility of establishing a renewable energy based power system. At the beginning of this century, many scientists claimed that renewable energy sources can fulfill only a few percent of the energy needs of a country of Germany’s size. Afterwards, when renewable energy entered the day-ahead market, the scientists wondered whether wind energy could participate in the ba lancing markets following the day-ahead market. Nowadays it became an obvious fact that the renewable energy has a visible share in the total energy supply ( T. Gomez and R. Escobra, 2014). Many regions, not only in the Europe, introduce plans of energy systems modernization so that it is probable that in a few or several years most of the demand for electricity will be covered by renewable energy sources (Costa Rica 100% by 2021, Denmark 100% by 2050, Sri Lanka by 2030) (M. Willenbacher, 2013). The aim of this paper is to present a proper estimation of power supply based on the renewable energy sources in the context of the entire energy system in the annual balance, taking into account the technical and the economical optimization strategies. The article presents also the simplified structure of the 100% renewable energy system supported by energy storage systems and the production of synthetic fuels.