In this study, a particular class of energy system scenarios assuming 100% renewable energy (RE) are selected and compared. The purpose is to compare the relative characteristics of the scenarios, focusing on the amount and types of flexibility used and the predicted electricity generation cost. The approach included the screening of 45 studies (some of which contained multiple scenarios) to down-select to 8 studies, which used high-fidelity short-term energy system models. The compared scenarios applied many strategies for providing flexibility, which was found to be a crucial and significant component of a 100% RE system. Accordingly, only two of the fifteen examined scenarios contained a variable generation fraction greater than 65% of total scenario capacity (73% and 69%). Predicted electricity costs varied drastically in all regions. Some studies provided multiple scenarios (including business-as-usual scenarios and costs) that could be compared. In 3 out of the 4 studies including a business-as-usual cost, the 100% RE scenarios were found to be between 41% and 104% more expensive. The fourth study showed electricity costs to be the same for a 100% RE system and business-as-usual system, and the 100% RE system to be 62% cheaper when externalities are included.

在这项研究中，选择并比较了假设100％可再生能源（RE）的一类特定的能源系统方案。目的是比较方案的相对特征，重点是使用的灵活性的数量和类型以及预计的发电成本。该方法包括筛选45项研究（其中一些包含多个方案），以选择8项研究，这些研究使用了高保真短期能源系统模型。经过比较的方案采用了许多策略来提供灵活性，这被认为是100％可再生能源系统的关键和重要组成部分。相应地，在15个被检查的方案中，只有两个方案的可变发电比例大于方案总容量的65％（73％和69％）。预测的电力成本在所有地区都大不相同。一些研究提供了可以比较的多个方案（包括照常使用方案和成本）。在4项研究中的3项（包括照常营业成本）中，发现100％的可再生能源成本要高出41％至104％。第四项研究表明，对于100％的可再生能源系统和常规业务系统，电力成本是相同的，而包括外部性，则100％的可再生能源系统的成本要低62％。