MENA compared to Europe: The influence of land use, nuclear power, and transmission expansion on renewable electricity system costs

Most studies that examine CO2-neutral, or near power systems by using energy system models investigate Europe the United States, while similar for other regions are rare. In this paper, we focus on Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where weather conditions differ substantially from those in Europe. We use a green-field linear capacity expansion model with over-night investment to assess effect cost of (i) limiting/expanding amount land available wind solar farms, (ii) allowing nuclear (iii) disallowing international transmission. The assessment is done under three different regimes PV battery storage. First, find farms can have significant impact cost, increase 0-50% as result reduced land. Second, has minor MENA, it may decrease up 20%. Europe, highly dependent regime. Third, transmission increases 25% both MENA. impacts these controversial policy-relevant factors decarbonized thus play out differently, depending region uncertain future costs conclude renewable MENA likely be less costly than one irrespective uncertainties regarding batteries, policies surrounding power, transmission, farms.