Competitive Position of Zero-Carbon Dispatchable Generation

As power systems become increasingly dominated by variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, understanding the role of dispatchable generation becomes critical. This paper examines how different zero-carbon and low-carbon technologies compete within an integrated energy system and explores the trade-offs between cost, flexibility, reliability, and decarbonization. It highlights the importance of sector coupling, storage, hydrogen, and carbon removal in enabling cost-effective pathways to carbon neutrality.

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Achieving a carbon-neutral energy system requires more than expanding renewable electricity generation. While wind and solar are expected to provide the bulk of future energy supply, their variability creates an ongoing need for flexibility and dispatchable generation to ensure reliability and security of supply.

This position paper examines the role of zero-carbon dispatchable technologies in a future carbon-neutral energy system. Using integrated energy-system modelling, it explores how electricity, heat, hydrogen, energy storage, and carbon-management solutions interact, and how technologies such as hydrogen, biomass, nuclear power, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and direct air capture (DAC) compete and complement each other under different system conditions.

The analysis highlights the value of a holistic system perspective on decarbonization and identifies the key economic and technological factors shaping future energy-system pathways. It offers insights into how flexibility, sector coupling, and carbon-removal solutions can support the transition to cost-effective, carbon-neutral energy systems.

Download the position paper to learn more about the future role of dispatchable generation in a carbon-neutral energy system.