In the course of the energy transition, the EU member states’ National Energy and Climate Plans seek to install significant amounts of intermittent renewable generation capacity over this decade. Previous studies underline the social, political, and economic benefits of the electricity sector decarbonisation. The economic analysis of renewable energy sources (RES) integration is commonly performed with single-bus generation expansion models that seek the cost-optimal expansion of RES generation capacity to reduce operational expenses. However, electricity grids will require investments to adapt to the integration of high amounts of RES capacity. This paper contrasts the cost-optimal generation capacity mix obtained from a single-bus expansion model with a conservative estimation of electricity network investment requirements for an exemplary Spanish-like case study. RES network investment costs are put in context with an alternative non-RES generation expansion pathway. Network investment costs considered include expansion costs for both transmission and distribution grids. Electricity network expansion costs represent 6 to 10% of the corresponding generation capacity investment. Despite increasing network investment costs, the integration of high RES shares into electricity grids reduces operating costs when compared to non-RES pathways. Fuel and emission savings exceed total investments (generation capacity, network expansion, and connection costs).

在能源转型过程中，欧盟成员国的国家能源和气候计划寻求在这十年内安装大量间歇性可再生能源发电能力。先前的研究强调了电力部门脱碳的社会、政治和经济利益。可再生能源 (RES) 整合的经济分析通常使用单母线发电扩展模型进行，这些模型寻求 RES 发电容量的成本优化扩展，以降低运营费用。然而，电网将需要投资以适应大量可再生能源容量的整合。本文比较了从单总线扩展模型中获得的成本最优发电容量组合与对类似西班牙的示例性案例研究的电网投资需求的保守估计。可再生能源网络投资成本与替代的非可再生能源发电扩张途径相关。考虑的网络投资成本包括输配电网的扩建成本。电网扩建成本占相应发电容量投资的6%至10%。尽管网络投资成本增加，但与非可再生能源路径相比，将高可再生能源份额并入电网可降低运营成本。燃料和排放节省超过总投资（发电能力、网络扩展和连接成本）。可再生能源网络投资成本与替代的非可再生能源发电扩张途径相关。考虑的网络投资成本包括输配电网的扩建成本。电网扩建成本占相应发电容量投资的6%至10%。尽管网络投资成本增加，但与非可再生能源路径相比，将高可再生能源份额并入电网可降低运营成本。燃料和排放节省超过总投资（发电能力、网络扩展和连接成本）。可再生能源网络投资成本与替代的非可再生能源发电扩张途径相关。考虑的网络投资成本包括输配电网的扩建成本。电网扩建成本占相应发电容量投资的6%至10%。尽管网络投资成本增加，但与非可再生能源路径相比，将高可再生能源份额并入电网可降低运营成本。燃料和排放节省超过总投资（发电能力、网络扩展和连接成本）。电网扩建成本占相应发电容量投资的6%至10%。尽管网络投资成本增加，但与非可再生能源路径相比，将高可再生能源份额并入电网可降低运营成本。燃料和排放节省超过总投资（发电能力、网络扩展和连接成本）。电网扩建成本占相应发电容量投资的6%至10%。尽管网络投资成本增加，但与非可再生能源路径相比，将高可再生能源份额并入电网可降低运营成本。燃料和排放节省超过总投资（发电能力、网络扩展和连接成本）。