Energy storage systems impact on Egypt's future energy mix with high renewable energy penetration: A long-term analysis

High renewable energy penetration targets cannot be achieved without more reliance on energy storage technologies. This study provides a long-term techno-economic analysis for the energy mix of Egypt until 2050. That is with considering various types of energy storage including pumped hydropower, electro-chemical (Redox flow battery) and (Li-Ion battery), and hydrogen energy. Since 80 % renewable energy generation from all primary energy sources was targeted by 2050, six different scenarios were studied by using the PLEXOS energy model. The results showed that the capacity of pumped storage hydropower (PSHP) is expected to reach 21.0 GW, contributing to almost 3.7 % from total energy supply by 2050. The electrolyzers' capacity for Hydrogen Energy Storage System (HESS) is expected to reach 15.0 GW, producing 20.69 TWh of Hydrogen energy by 2050. Besides that, the Levelized Cost of Energy storage (LCOS) of (PSHP) is expected to reach 189.8 (US$/MWh) compared with 60.83 (US$/MWh) in case of (HESS) by 2050. On the other hand, it is anticipated that the capacity of both redox flow and Lithium-Ion batteries will be 5.1 GW and 3.0 GW, respectively by 2050.