Decarbonizing isolated power systems: The role of renewable sources, storage and grid expansion
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Decarbonizing isolated regions is challenging due to fossil fuel dependence and limited grid infrastructure. This study proposes a flexible optimization framework to assess cost-effective decarbonization pathways under different environmental and technological constraints. The methodology integrates automated renewable resource assessment, photovoltaic performance modelling, spatial and temporal clustering, and energy system optimization. The framework is applied to Yukon (Canada), an isolated power system with high hydropower penetration, diesel-dependent remote communities, and limited interconnections. Scenarios include Business-as-Usual (BAU), full decarbonization, intermediate emission constraints, and technology-ban configurations. Achieving net-zero without grid expansion increases system costs fourfold relative to BAU, while grid expansion reduces net-zero costs by about 25%. Intermediate decarbonization is mainly supported by photovoltaic generation and battery storage, whereas deeper decarbonization shifts the system toward large-scale wind deployment coupled with hydrogen storage for long-duration flexibility. The framework is transferable to other isolated and infrastructure-constrained energy systems.
Source: ChemRxiv
Institution: Politecnico di Torino
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7221816320