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SESE-V - Potential Role of Fusion Power Generation in a Very Long Term Electricity Supply Perspective: Case of Western Europe
E. Gnansounou1, D. Bedniaguine1
1Swiss Federal Institute of Technology - EPFL, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
Abstract: This paper aims to explore the potential role of fusion power in future electricity supply mixes and to quantify its advantages and possible drawbacks. A general assessment of the electricity system in Western Europe is performed at its current and anticipated state, estimating generic technical and economical parameters of existing and prospective power generation technologies, and building on this basis consistent electricity markets scenarios for the time horizon 2100. Various scenarios are examined, including “reference” (without fusion) and several explorative scenarios presuming different market shares of fusion, nuclear fission and coal with CO2 capture & sequestration. The methodology applied in this study makes use of least cost electricity systems planning model PLANELEC-Pro developed by LASEN-EPFL. It is found that deployment of total 90 GWe of fusion power in Western Europe is capable to reduce up to 10 % of the total electricity system CO2 emissions, while causing a slight increase of the levelised electricity production cost (≈ 2-3 € / MWh). Meanwhile, nuclear fission and coal with CO2 capture & sequestration may bring about a comparable CO2 emission reduction, though at lower cost. It is concluded that an additional socio-economic assessment of spillover benefits of fusion technology RD&D and deployment is needed for a comprehensive analysis of the potential role of fusion power generation in future energy systems, economy and society.
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Synopsis (pdf)