Techno-economic analysis of energy transition pathways and renewable energy technologies for a sustainable energy-industry system

Abstract

Climate change, driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, poses an existential threat, with global temperatures already exceeding critical thresholds. The energy sector is the primary source of these emissions, as fossil fuel consumption continues to rise despite the growing adoption of renewable energy sources. A transition to renewable energy is crucial to mitigate the effects of climate change.

This dissertation focuses on the transition to renewable energy systems, with a specific emphasis on techno-economic assessments of onshore and offshore wind power and wave power. The research aims to improve the accuracy of renewable energy assessments and enhance energy system models, ultimately informing more effective energy policies.

The dissertation makes significant contributions to the field of energy systems research by highlighting the importance of technological detail in energy system models. The research provides a nuanced understanding of the costs and benefits associated with various renewable energy technologies, showing optimal configurations of onshore wind turbines, spacing-dependent regional variations in levelised costs of electricity of offshore wind power and cost-competitiveness of wave power by 2030s. Incorporating hourly coefficients of performance for heat pumps yields a more accurate representation of their behaviour, particularly during colder periods and in relation to energy storage. The integration of a more detailed industry sector representation on the case of Finland enhances flexibility and reduces storage requirements. A comparison of low-carbon transition pathways offers a timely cost assessment, contributing to the ongoing discourse on the role of nuclear power in the energy transition, showing that expansion of nuclear power in Finland would result in 71-84% higher system costs. Additionally, the investigation of the potential for remote areas such as Greenland to become energy hubs provides a global outlook on the options available during the energy transition. The key findings of this dissertation have important implications for energy system planners and policymakers, emphasising the need for advanced modelling approaches that account for interdependencies between energy sectors and technologies.