The relevance of energy storages for an autarky of electricity supply ...

1.4 Basic assumptions and main literature
Several basic assumptions are underlying the feasibility study „Energy Autarky for
Austria 2050“ and therefore are also the basis for this Master Thesis. The most
important in regards of RES-E supply 2050 are summerised below:
• Austria will have to store electricity seasonally for other EU-countries in the
future, and will only be able to source out storage to foreign countries on a
temporary basis. In this paper it is assumed that Austria only has to store
electricity for its own purpose and does not have to provide further storage
capacities for foreign storage demand. (Streicher, 2010)
• The assessment of storage demand underlies a systemic view. Therefore,
economic externalities like fluctuating market prices due to changes in demand
are not included into the analysis.
• It is assumed that demand curves can be 20 % better adjusted to the supply
curves with more widespread installed Smart-Grids.
• Energy exchange with neighbouring EU-countries is accepted on a daily and
weekly basis. Given that the yearly average of import and export is zero.
• Only idle agricultural excess area is considered usable for renewable energy. It is
assumed that the area necessary for food production remains constant. This
assumption could be unrealistic if population grows or cultivation changes.
• It is assumed that technologies like smart metering and smart grids will reduce
transmission losses and net instabilities. Losses due to distribution and storage,
which on an average represent 10% of total losses, are already included. (Taking
into consideration that roof-mounted PV plants will have lower losses than
windparks with longer distribution).
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