The contribution of distributed flexibility potentials to corrective transmission system operation for strongly renewable energy systems

Abstract

Corrective operation of electrical transmission systems requires flexibility degrees of freedom to be reliably available when the system is in a critical state. In this study, we develop a method to quantify flexibility potentials from distributed and sector-coupling energy resources. We develop key performance indicators (KPIs) that correlate these potentials with the occurrence of critical transmission corridor loadings and, by that, quantify how often flexibility degrees of freedom are available when they are required.The method is tested on the example of Germany embedded in a central European energy system in the year 2030. In the considered strongly renewable scenario (208GW installed renewable capacity) the supply often exceeds the demand. This leads to large-scale curtailments that can be used as a source for flexibility, particularly flexibility to re-increase generation. We find that, in total, curtailed onshore wind parks in the 110kV-systems would have the potential to increase their feed-in power by 5GW (upward flexibility) in the 10% most critical transmission scenarios. Central power-to-heat (P2H) plants can provide their total power of 16.1GW upward flexibility potential in these scenarios.Analyzing each transmission corridor separately, we find that corrective setpoint adjustments from the same technology combination, wind and P2H, can completely compensate a sudden loss of 2GW transmission capacity for up to 40% of critical timesteps on the transmission corridors within the given model. These findings indicate that flexibility from sector-coupling elements and decentral energy resources are a relevant resource and can be applied for corrective actions in transmission system operations.

Hydrogen supply chain scenarios for the decarbonisation of a German multi-modal energy system

“…The employed energy system model is formulated as a linear programme using the modelling framework Energy System Development Plan (ESDP), which is described in [33] and applied in an updated version in [34]. The developed model of Germany is adopted from Kolster et al [35] for the electricity and heat sector and extended from the year 2030 to the year 2050. Both models share the same base assumptions on techno-economic parameters for electricity and heat generation.…”

Modelling Market-Driven Operation of Future Distribution Systems

“…where B is a set of network buses indexed by b, while d ∈ D determines only those buses where DSO flexibility service can be procured (i.e., load buses), and Br is a set of network branches indexed by bb ′ . The optimization problem is solved with respect to power import from the external grid After solving (10) and ( 11), an additional procedure for determining DSO flexibility service requirements is performed:…”

“…In other works, authors propose methods to coordinate distributed flexibility with Electricity System Operator (ESO). For this purpose, Kolster et al [10] evaluate the feasibility of distributed flexibility for transmission system needs, considering Germany's power system as a case study. In [11], Capitanescu describe a potential mechanism for ESO ancillary service provision from distribution systems based on activereactive power charts.…”

Pathways toward a Decarbonized Future—Impact on Security of Supply and System Stability in a Sustainable German Energy System

“…The gas grid is assumed to be free of bottlenecks and not explicitly modeled. However, a quick check to analyze if this assumption is justified by comparing the transported energy in the model with past values resulted in similar energies as already being transported, as described in [54]. A more thorough description of the model can be found in [54].…”