Search

The reduction in PV prices and interest in energy independence accelerate the adoption of residential battery storage. This storage can support various functions of an energy system undergoing decarbonization. In this work, operative benefits of storage from the system perspective, namely, generation cost reduction and congestion mitigation, are investigated. Germany is chosen as a case study due to its strong reliance on variable renewable energy. For the analysis, an economic dispatch model with a high spatial resolution is coupled with a pan-European transmission grid model. It is shown that the system's generation costs are highest when the assets are used only to maximize PV self-consumption, and the costs are lowest when the storage also reacts to the market dynamics. This amounts to a 6% cost reduction. Both operation strategies result in an equal level of grid congestion and infrastructure loading. This is improved with a strategy that accounts for regional peak reduction as a secondary objective. The high congestion level emphasizes that grid expansion needs to keep pace with the generation and electrification expansion necessary to decarbonize other sectors. Lastly, policymakers should enable multipurpose utilization, e.g., via the introduction of market-oriented retail electricity prices with intervention options for grid operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germany targets to increase the electricity generation from renewable energy sources and combined heat and power plants. The selected targets increase the total cost of electricity carried by consumers as well as increases the share of decentralized energy generation. To achieve higher cost effectiveness as well as increasing the decentralized share of renewable energy, pressure is put on decentralized energy system operation management and expansion planning. This work studies a decentralized expansion planning with a special focus in generating flexibility options in a decentralized region with a high share of renewable energy generation. The analysis is conducted with a scenario-based optimization modeling approach. The results show that flexibility options can reduce the cost of the system. However, the side effect of a decentralized market-oriented operation can lead to a difficulty of grid control. The region should set a long term expansion plan with the consideration of flexibility options, generation technologies as well as ICT infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is expected that end-users from all sectors should participate in providing system flexibility, as variable renewable energy is increasingly integrated into electricity systems. The ability of end-users to shift their electricity profiles has considerable potentials and can serve many purposes, e.g. to curb the peak load or to increase self-consumption. However, evaluation methods designed for flexibility from conventional power plants may be inadequate for flexibility from end-users due to the diverse constraints of underlying processes and limitations related to individual needs. This work presents a comprehensive and modular flexibility model developed from common operational characteristics of flexible processes as an alternativemethod. The model is applied to two examples: First, the operation of a combined heat-and-power plant including input and output storage is optimized with the objective to increase profits from electricity sales on the spot market. Second, a steel rod production line consisting of melting, casting, and milling processes is scheduled so that operating costs, including peak power costs, are minimized. Moreover, potentials of flexibility as external services and related costs are analysed. In this paper, the model is used to calculate the optimal costs (€), time-dependent flexibility potentials (kWh) and costs of flexibility provision (€/kWh). Thus, the adaptability and versatility of the model are demonstrated. As a modelling template, the model can ease the efforts of stakeholders in the characterization and evaluation of various flexible processes, especially those from small and medium-sized users. • Flexibility from various processes of end-users can be deployed for own objectives and/or provide external services. • A MILP model is developed from common operational characteristics of processes and their components as a tool to evaluate end-users' operational flexibility. • The model is used to optimize operations of a combined heat-and-power generation system and a steel production line consisting of interlinked processes. • Based on the developed model, flexibility potentials as external services and associated costs are also analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]