New environmental restrictions – overall impact on the power system

Informations

Funding country

Norway

Acronym

-

URL

-

Start date

1/1/2020

End date

12/31/2023

Budget

701,100 EUR

Fundings

Abstract

The aim of the project is to quantify the total consequences for the power system of new environmental constraints on hydro power operation, such as constraints on water flow release and reservoir levels. The terms of licence for many hydro power plants are due for revision in the coming years. New constraints that may reduce hydro power production flexibility may also have significant consequences for the power system. In the future power system with larger shares of variable renewables (i.e., wind and solar power), reduced flexibility may have even greater consequences. The consequences for the power system of new environmental constraints are calculated for 2015 and 2030. This information will enable the authorities to make fact-based decisions. The information will also enable producers, The TSO and the Regulator to adapt to the changes and mitigate unwanted consequences. The Norwegian power system consists of many reservoirs and hydro power plants and calculating the overall consequences of all changes is a complex task. The work will therefore use the latest prototype power market models (FANSI and PRIMOD) to calculate the consequences of different constraints on operations. In 2021, preliminary results for total impacts on the power system for minimum water flow implemented as Q95 (the historical flow of water in 5% of the time) and reservoir restrictions are calculated. Q95 is calculated for ca 220 power stations in Norway. The plants are among other identified by the report NVE2013:49 «Vannkraftkonsesjoner som kan revideres innen 2022». NVE has done the calculations of Q95 with the model NEVINA. The results from NEVINA are implemented in the FANSI model and will be implemented in the PRIMOD model. The power producers are doing a quality assurance of the implementation of the environmental restrictions. The results show significant impacts on lost energy as well as increases in electricity prices. In 2030, there will be reduced export from Norway and increased power production from fossil resources in neighbouring countries. Quality improvements of the models FANSI and PRIMOD are also included in the research. Flow-based market coupling will also be implemented in 2022. An alternative method to Q95 for calculation of minimum water bypass will be developed. Finally, the impacts on floods, the hydropower producer's income and the socioeconomic surplus will be calculated. Energi Norge is the project lead. SINTEF Energy Research will do the major part of the research. The industrial partners are also actively involved in the research activities. They are: Statkraft Energi, Agder Energi Vannkraft, Hydro Energi, Hafslund-E-CO, BKK Produksjon, Energiforsk, Energiforetagen, SFE Produksjon, Sira-Kvina Kraftselskap, Trønderenergi, Skagerak Kraft, NTE Energi, Statnett and NVE. In 2021, there were four workshops with the industry partners. The project also has two expert groups: ?Model development? and ?Environmental restrictions?. The project period is from August 2020 to the summer of 2023.