Proposal of a Norwegian ZEB definition: Storylines and criteria

ABSTRACT A clear and agreed definition of Zero Emission Building (ZEB) is yet to be achieved, both internationally and in Norway. However, it is understood that both the definition and the surrounding energy supply system will affect significantly the way buildings are designed to achieve the ZEB goal. Since the energy system in Europe is expected to change significantly in the coming decades, especially for electricity, it is indispensable to tie the definition of ZEB to possible scenarios on such development of the energy system. A scenario is defined as a combination of options chosen within a framework of different uncertain futures. Two uncertainties are identified as most important for the development and deployment of ZEB: Technology development and Public attitude. These two uncertainties are used to span out a set of four relevant futures, also termed storylines, as a common background for scenario analysis. A formal definition of ZEB is characterized by a set of criteria that are: the system boundary, feeing-in possibilities, balance object, balancing period, credits, crediting method, energy performance and mismatch factors. For each criterion different options are available, and the choice of which options are more appropriate to define ZEBs may depend on the storyline features

Introducing system flexibility to a multinational transmission expansion planning model

Grid investments are considered as sunk costs with a very long lifetime, particularly in an offshore grid context. The market mechanisms for cost recovery of these investments are exposed to an increasing share of variable power generation at the supply side, demanding more flexibility in the system. Hence, it is of great interest to account for these changes in tools being used for decision support. This paper presents an extension of an already existing mixed integer linear program (MILP) for transmission expansion planning (TEP), by including system flexibility in the form of energy storage and demand-side management. Moreover, an enhanced description of variable power generation is used to construct production profiles with a higher level of detail. The latter is achieved by simulating weather data for wind and solar incorporating higher temporal and spatial resolution than in previous studies. The impact of using new times series for variable power generation, and the introduction of system flexibility, are both presented separately using the North Sea area for a comparative case study with 2030 scenarios provided by ENTSO-E. The consequent results of interest include lifetime operational costs (OPEX), investment costs (CAPEX), and offshore wind power curtailment

Burden on hydropower units for short-term balancing of renewable power systems

There is a general need to change hydropower operational regimes to balance the growing contribution of variable renewable energy sources in power systems. Quantifying the burden on generation equipment is increasingly uncertain and difficult. Here, we propose a framework combining technical and economic indicators to analyze primary frequency control (PFC) on a timescale of seconds. We develop a model integrating hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical subsystems to characterize efficiency loss, wear and fatigue, regulation mileage, and frequency quality. We evaluate burden relief strategies under three idealized remuneration schemes for PFC, inspired by those used in Sweden, the USA, and China, respectively. We show how burden and compensation vary under future scenarios of renewable power systems. Our framework can be used by producers to develop favorable operation strategies that reduce burden and increase economic value, and by transmission system operators to provide insights on the relation between incentive structures and regulating performance