One decarbonization strategy is to locate facilities with high electricity demand that can operate flexibly (ramp up and down their energy use) in areas of good RE potential. Examples of this type of facility might be steel EAFs or hydrogen electrolyzers.
One approach is for these facilities to buy RE from existing RE projects at times of high production and low demand, when RE would otherwise be curtailed
Another approach is for the industrial/hydrogen facility to have dedicated RE (a wind farm or solar farm) just for itself, or mostly for itself (but selling power to the grid sometimes)
Either way, the facility would enjoy lower electricity costs than purchasing grid electricity, and the electricity would be 100% clean.
Consider whether to implement a policy that promotes linked hydrogen-RE or industrial-RE projects, and/or a policy that reduces curtailment and offsets hydrogen or industry electricity demand by the amount of avoided curtailment.
One decarbonization strategy is to locate facilities with high electricity demand that can operate flexibly (ramp up and down their energy use) in areas of good RE potential. Examples of this type of facility might be steel EAFs or hydrogen electrolyzers.
One approach is for these facilities to buy RE from existing RE projects at times of high production and low demand, when RE would otherwise be curtailed
Another approach is for the industrial/hydrogen facility to have dedicated RE (a wind farm or solar farm) just for itself, or mostly for itself (but selling power to the grid sometimes)
Either way, the facility would enjoy lower electricity costs than purchasing grid electricity, and the electricity would be 100% clean.
Consider whether to implement a policy that promotes linked hydrogen-RE or industrial-RE projects, and/or a policy that reduces curtailment and offsets hydrogen or industry electricity demand by the amount of avoided curtailment.
Suggested by Ranping Song [WRI] on 6/5/2020