Coordinated control of coastal multi-source multi-load system with desalination load: a review

Traditional seawater desalination requires high amounts of energy, with correspondingly high costs and limited benefits, hindering wider applications of the process. To further improve the comprehensive economic benefits of seawater desalination, the desalination load can be combined with renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, and ocean energy or with the power grid to ensure its effective regulation. Utilizing energy internet (EI) technology, energy balance demand of the regional power grid, and coordinated control between coastal multi-source multi-load and regional distribution network with desalination load is reviewed herein. Several key technologies, including coordinated control of coastal multi-source multi-load system with seawater desalination load, flexible interaction between seawater desalination and regional distribution network, and combined control of coastal multi-source multi-load storage system with seawater desalination load, are discussed in detail. Adoption of the flexible interaction between seawater desalination and regional distribution networks is beneficial for solving water resource problems, improving the ability to dissipate distributed renewable energy, balancing and increasing grid loads, improving the safety and economy of coastal power grids, and achieving coordinated and comprehensive application of power grids, renewable energy sources, and coastal loads. Keywords: Desalination, Distribution network, Power grids, Multi-source multi-load, Coordinated control