Adaptive energy ecosystems - improved operability, efficiency and economics for electricity and gas infrastructure

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The convergence of the electrical grids with the natural gas distribution/storage infrastructure increases the flexibility for managing intermittent renewable supplies. Renewable Natural Gas, Power-to-Gas (PtG) and other gas-based energy storage solutions offer the ability to improve the economic and technical management of surplus off-peak power, and intermittent renewable energy. New, adaptive infrastructure like electrolyzers allows simultaneous grid stabilization, seasonal storage of bulk power, geographic transmission of energy and dispatchable regeneration of distributed renewable energy. This is achieved by bridging the electricity and gas-pipeline infrastructure together. This has near-term potential because much of the existing energy infrastructure exists. Renewable gases, like PtG conversion of renewable power to hydrogen, is just optimizing the existing gas distribution and electricity network capabilities to limit waste and exports to harvest more renewable energy for Ontario. In this program various models will be explored to size and site the key gas generation components, and assess the implications to the natural gas distribution system such as the resulting concentration of hydrogen a various points and times (i.e. time of day and time of year) in the system. Models for 'energy hubs' will be developed, wherein an energy hub is a center of technologies that transform and store energy in various forms. In addition to the economic and environmental benefits, optimizing existing infrastructure will result increased public acceptance on energy issues as pressure for new-build energy infrastructure is reduced. The scale of improved renewable energy integration is potentially in the TWh range offering very compelling environmental gains. In addition to the economic and environmental benefits, optimizing existing infrastructure will result in less public push-back on energy issues as pressure for new-build energy infrastructure is reduced.