Comparaison de l'intégration des sources d'énergies renouvelables dans des réseaux basés principalement sur le charbon, le nucléaire et l'hydroélectricité

Abstract

Several human activities, including the production of electricity via thermal power plants, are increasingly emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs), resulting in global warming. The arrival of intermittent renewable energies (IRE) (wind and solar) in the electricity production sector seems to be the solution to limit the emissions of these GHGs during the production of electricity, which is so important in our society. However, the intermittency of these energies raises the challenge of their integration into the electricity mix. This research compares the integration of these energies according to the means of controllable production used in the above-mentioned electricity mix. The comparison is made between nuclear, hydroelectric, and coal-fired power plants. The computer simulation of the different electricity mixes also considers the methods used to balance the mix, such as the use of storage facilities, cross-border exchanges and consumption and production cut-off. This simulation is adapted to the French electric model. Results show that hydroelectric plants seem to be the ones to be favoured to reach a higher penetration rate of IRE. The use of these power plants, although impossible in France, makes it possible to obtain an entirely renewable electricity mix. Nuclear power plants are not to be outdone and make it possible to obtain a penetration rate of IRE close to 70% while decarbonising the electricity mix a little more. In addition to showing the worst results in terms of GHGs emissions, coal-fired power plants are also the least controllable of the three means of production studied, making it possible to achieve an IRE penetration rate of around 68%. This work also highlights the solutions for balancing the electricity network. The latter, and in particular production cut-off, will have to be used increasingly in the years to come to limit the volumes of overproduction generated by the augmentation in the penetration rate of IRE.

Date	4 May 2022
Original language	French
Awarding Institution	École de technologie supérieure
Supervisor	Daniel Rousse (Supervisor) & Handy Fortin Blanchette (Co-supervisor)