Analysis and modeling of the impacts of the development of intermittent renewable energies on the French electricity system: Study of the potential of electricity storage and the complementarity with heat

France aims to massively develop intermittent renewable energies - wind and photovoltaic - while reducing the share of dispatchable sources, in this case, nuclear power. This paradigm shift implies rethinking the management of energy systems. Indeed, renewables' variable nature generates a need for flexibility on different time-scales, from day to year. As dispatchable means' flexibility can no longer be relied on, this thesis questions the potential of other means to meet this need: electricity storage, oversized production and heating networks.Faced with the need for a systemic approach, we developed simple models to enhance the understanding of the interdependencies between production and storage. The optimized indicators are economic (...), but also environmental: embodied energy and greenhouse gas emissions over the entire life cycle. The performances of the systems considered are those of today and their development is limited by resource and space availability. Without going into the precise details of how each technology works, this physical approach points out optimal operation areas for the different technologies and the difficult cases for which solutions are still lacking.First, the need for flexibility generated for different intermittency penetration rates is quantified for several time scales. It enables us to compare the potential of different electricity storage technologies - at each of these scales - to bring production and consumption in phase. The results show that long time-scales - typically seasonal storage - require the largest investments for low profitability. The competition mechanisms between several storages and over sizing are then analyzed. It shows how the optimum solutions use complementary flexibility means. The study then addresses the potential of coupling between the electrical grid and the heating grid as a means of flexibility, particularly for the management of long-term needs.This thesis work focuses on the French scale, although the methodology is applicable elsewhere. (author)