Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU) is working to improve the reliability and efficiency of electricity supply in small and medium-sized cities (MSG). To achieve it, scientists propose to include flexibility resources in the MSG energy system.
The project "Transformation of communal energy Supply systems in small and medium-sized cities" is being implemented with the support of the Russian Science Foundation. The first part of the project was devoted to flexibility in MSG's heat supply systems, and work is currently underway to increase economic and technical accessibility and uninterrupted power supply.
According to Elizaveta Nasibova, an assistant at the Department of Automated Electric Power Systems at NSTU-NETI, in Russia, the development of the electric power industry has historically been based on the principle of ensuring maximum reliability of electricity production and transmission combined with minimal operating costs, which fully corresponds to the definition of a flexible energy system. A well-known way to create flexibility is to combine power systems, which is accompanied by systemic effects, but the potential of this method is almost exhausted. In addition, new conditions have emerged: the share of industry in the structure of electricity consumption has decreased and consumption in the utility sector has increased significantly, the fuel landscape has changed, and new energy production technologies have emerged.
"Today, the Russian electric power industry is facing a number of challenges. For example, the cost of electricity is regularly increasing and at the same time there is a decrease in the uninterrupted supply of electricity, which is contrary to the interests of consumers. To reduce the contradictions, we propose to include flexibility resources in the Unified Energy System of Russia. Their use should lead to effects that minimize the existing imbalance. We conducted a comprehensive analysis, allocated flexibility resources and divided them into three groups: generation flexibility, network flexibility and demand flexibility," said Elizaveta Nasibova.
The flexibility of generation includes various multi-fuel and hybrid power plants, energy storage systems that are able to compensate for the volatility of renewable energy sources and respond to market price signals. The flexibility of the network is ensured by changing its configuration and maintaining the reliability of the power supply using various technical means: switches, phase-reversal devices, reclosers, compensating devices, various intelligent networks, etc. Demand flexibility is the ability of consumers to change their load schedules, use their own generation or energy storage systems to achieve certain effects. For example, reduce consumption during peak hours in order to smooth out the maximum load, or increase it during periods of recession in order to make the schedule more uniform.
Scientists at NSTU-NETI consider the creation of district power systems based on distributed generation in small and medium-sized cities to be a promising solution. Such systems will include various innovative technologies. For example, mini-thermal power plants with gas-piston installations in combination with renewable energy sources, heat and electric energy storage systems, and electricity-to-heat converters.
It is proposed to combine the regional energy systems into territorial energy systems. This will lead to new systemic effects (alignment of load schedules, reduction of network restrictions, reduction of power reserves, etc.) and, as a result, to an increase in the efficiency and reliability of power supply. As part of the project, the scientists plan to detail each of the allocated flexibility resources in order to assess the technical and economic effects of their inclusion in the energy supply system of small and medium-sized cities.