Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Utilities understand local networks are evolving due to advanced monitoring and
controls which obliges them to focus on integrated resource planning and operation
that in turn enhance their assets [28]. Thus, as an extension of this integration there
is motivation in exploring the trade-offs DERs bring under a coordinated scheme
with natural gas and electrical DNOs. For instance, when a group of CHPs gener-
ates both heat and electricity it will impact, from the DNO perspective, the gas and
electric power flows required to satisfy the demands throughout their networks.
The following trends can be deduced for the future of energy service networks:
●
New technologies, such as CHPs and PHEVs, should be introduced so that DNOs
can take advantage of their techno-economical and environmental characteristics;
●
Control mechanisms in each infrastructure should be flexible in reacting to diverse
generation and load patterns which enable the enhancement of energy delivery;
●
An impartial intermediary entity with optimal decision-making capacity is
required to coordinate the interactions between DNOs and the grid connected
DERs;
●
In order to enhance energy delivery, natural gas and electrical distribution net-
works should be evaluated by viewing the infrastructures as a whole integrated
system.
The above conclusions mean interrelationships between the energy service net-
works have to be identified and quantified so that stakeholders can have access to
valuable data that will allow them to make informed decisions. If the infrastructures
are synthesised, it will be possible to address issues such as reducing the overall oper-
ating costs of DNOs. Accordingly, a power flow tool which incorporates multiple
energy carriers is required to perform this kind of research. Figure 1.5 illustrates the
components which are considered essential to model in order to obtain an insightful
assessment in this area of research; showing as an example, the possible interac-
tions existing infrastructure elements and consumption nodes can have with DER
technologies. For example aside from its normal flows the electrical and gas net-
works need to deal with the flows from PHEVs and CHPs while using their respective
control mechanisms, OLTC and compressors, to guarantee supply is met adequately.
Nowadays there exist a variety of load flow tools available which perform indi-
vidual network analysis for both academic and industrial applications. Therefore, it
is possible to determine the in-depth techno-economical performance of individual
natural gas and electric systems. Still, no commercial software has focused on depict-
ing the features and properties of integrated systems. It is the view of many that
the significant advances in power systems modelling will not take place in the core
algorithms, but in the coupling of analytical tools for a comprehensive evaluation
resulting in higher productivity [29].
1.3
Integrated management of energy systems
Although an integrated analysis of heat, water, communications and road networks is
a worthwhile exercise to explore, due to their relevance, a holistic analysis only con-
sidering natural gas and electric power networks is covered here. The complexity
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