Report on Saving Potentials in Energy Transmission and Distribution

This report analyses technically the energy saving potentials in electricity grids including both transmission and distribution parts. The focus is on technical active loss reduction in electricity grid through different sitings of flexible power generators (like gas turbines). For the study a simplified triangular shape grid configuration is used containing three nodes connected through three lines each with other. The study area is considered the North Sea due to the relatively high wind power potential. The study results indicate that active losses could be reduced as much as by 40% through optimization of the electricity system topology.JRC.F.6-Energy systems evaluatio

Baltic Power Systems’ Integration into the EU Market Coupling under Different Desynchronization Schemes: A Comparative Market Analysis

Currently, the power transmission system of the Baltic states is synchronized with the Integrated/Unified Power System (IPS/UPS), which includes the Russian grid, and the IPS/UPS provides frequency regulation and system security within the Baltic states. Since joining the European Union (EU) in 2004, the Baltic states have been following the EU’s energy policy targets. The Baltics are presently participating in a European electricity market, i.e., the NordPool market, while they are expected to join the pan-European electricity market—the European target model for power market integration. Moreover, from a power grid perspective, EU energy policies intend to desynchronize the power grid of the Baltic states from the IPS/UPS over the coming years. This paper evaluates these policy trends through market impacts, and it complements existing studies on Baltic-IPS/UPS desynchronization in terms of wholesale electricity prices, generation surpluses, primary reserve adequacy, and redispatch costs. Participation of the Baltic states in the integrated pan-European day-ahead electricity market with zonal pricing was modeled for 2030, followed by a national redispatch, with detailed power grid modeling of Baltic states to solve potential intrazonal congestion. The simulation results imply the superiority of the Baltics’ synchronization to continental Europe, compared to the other schemes

Coupling power and gas systems models

The interconnections between gas and electricity networks and markets are relevant to the Regulation 2017/1938 on security of gas supply. Indeed, gas-fired power plants require gas to be able to deliver electricity to the network, and a number of facilities in the gas transmission network need electricity to work adequately. The only way to address the interactions between those two systems is by using an integrated model. We adopt a techno economic approach based on the PLEXOS® software, as a suitable compromise to represent large scale transmission systems adding economic detail to both the gas and electricity parts. This technical report presents the European market model (including a more detailed description of the Italian power market) for the year 2016, focusing on the structure of the model, the main assumptions and input data. The performance of the model for simulating the Italian power and gas markets is briefly evaluated.JRC.C.3-Energy Security, Distribution and Market

THE BALTIC POWER SYSTEM BETWEEN EAST AND WEST INTERCONNECTIONS

Due to historical and geographical reasons, the Baltic States are strongly connected to the power (electricity) transmission grids of Russia and Belarus. Current energy security and energy independence targets in the EU trigger seeking for alternative power sources for the Baltic. Knowing that, a power system model of the Baltic States has been developed and validated with the purpose of providing comparative options for a reliable and secure development of the Baltic electricity system. The analysis of horizon 2020 and 2030 showed that the dependency of Baltic States on the outside resources is fairly low, provided that the expansion of the electricity system goes as planned.JRC.F.3-Energy Security, Systems and Marke

Validation of a Europe-wide electricity system model for techno-economic analysis

This article presents and validates a Europe-wide electricity system model for techno-economic analysis. It is a zonal model in which 35 countries are modelled as individual bidding zones. Validation of the model is performed via comparing modelling results with historical records of 2016. The model replicates historical electricity system behaviour well in terms of electricity production and cross-border trading. Modelled hourly prices follow historical variations. The model results in an average annual load weighted electricity price of 35.41 €/MWh, which is 3 € less than the historical value. The presented validation exercise provides a simple and fast way to improve modelling accuracy through adjusting input data and modelling assumptions. This article also shows how to set up a complete Europe-wide electricity system model from open-source data.JRC.C.3-Energy Security, Distribution and Market

Automated energy management in distributed electricity systems: An EEPOS approach

The increasing capacity of distributed electrical generators brings new challenges in maintaining a high security and quality of electricity supply. New techniques are required for grid support and power balance. The highest potential for these techniques is to be found on the part of the electricity distribution grid. This article addresses this issue and presents the EEPOS project’s approach to automated management of flexible electrical loads in neighbourhoods. The management goals are (i) maximum utilisation of distributed generation in the local grid, (ii) peak load shaving/congestion management, and (iii) reduction of electricity distribution losses. Contribution to the power balance is considered by applying two-tariff pricing for electricity. The presented approach to energy management is tested in a hypothetical sensitivity analysis of a distribution feeder with ten households and ten photovoltaic (PV) plants with an average daily consumption of electricity of 4.54 kWh per household and a peak PV panel output of 0.38 kW per plant. Energy management shows efficient performance at relatively low capacities of flexible load. At a flexible load capacity of 2.5% (of the average daily electricity consumption), PV generation surplus is compensated by 34%-100% depending on solar irradiance. Peak load is reduced by 30% on average. The article also presents the load shifting effect on electricity distribution losses and electricity costs for the grid user.JRC.C.3-Energy Security, Distribution and Market

Pan-European Analysis on Power System Flexibility

Ongoing deployments of intermittent non-synchronous power generators (i.e., wind turbines and photovoltaics) challenge power (electricity) system security in terms of matching power generation and demand. Higher flexibility in the future generation fleet and power demand are likely to play an essential role in maintaining secure operation of the power system. This paper proposes a stepwise methodology based on a set of indicators for future power system flexibility analysis through assessing (i) flexibility requirements, (ii) available flexibility resources, and (iii) power system adequacy. The proposed methodology is applied to a European case for 2020 and 2025 scenarios. The insights gained from this study can be used as input in distributing power balancing resources and to introduce new balancing products in a power market. Benefits of the integrated energy market are presented

Reactive power consumption in photovoltaic inverters: a novel configuration for voltage regulation in low-voltage radial feeders with no need for central control

High photovoltaic (PV) system generation in low-voltage feeders can cause voltage rise especially in low demand conditions. The conventional way of coping with voltage violation is disconnection of the PV systems or curtailment of the generated power. To address this issue, a novel configuration for voltage management in a radial feeder via regulated reactive power capability in PV inverters is presented. The novelty of the proposed configuration is based on the fact that all the PV inverters with the ability to consume reactive power are involved in voltage regulation without being centrally controlled. In order to apply the configuration, a reference voltage is initially estimated for each PV system and the PV inverters are calibrated accordingly. These settings depend on the feeder topology and can be calculated by the distribution network operator with a simple power flow modelling tool. Finally, the article presents a sensitivity analysis in order to examine how reactive power consumption in a single inverter influences PV penetration and inverter sizing at various PV topologies along the feeder.JRC.F.6-Energy Technology Policy Outloo

Demand shifting analysis at high penetration of distributed generation in low voltage grids

One of the main challenges that Europe has to face is to ensure the swift deployment of renewable energy sources by increasing their share in the energy generation mix to 20% by 2020, considering the large-scale deployment of new electricity generators in low voltage (LV) grids. The article highlights the contribution of electricity end users to achieving this target as the European Union is eager to unlock their potential in the energy sector. This article examines the penetration of distributed generation from a technical point of view and explores the possible barriers that may arise under high penetration conditions. Specifically, in the critical case of low demand and high distributed generation, the voltage could exceed the acceptable range in the LV feeder, and this can lead to the disconnection of the generator. Thus, a simple approach is used to calculate the voltage profile along the LV feeder and to estimate losses and loading. As the estimation takes the demand into account, this is followed by a sensitivity analysis – using the Monte Carlo technique – in order to track the optimal topology of flexible demand. The article suggests that, in critical cases, customers at the end of the LV feeder would be the main contributors to ensuring the uninterrupted operation of distributed generation within power quality standards.JRC.F.6-Energy systems evaluatio