Planning and Operation of Networks for Flexible and Low-Carbon Power and Energy Systems

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The imperatives of climate change mitigation are pushing electricity networks to become central enablers for the integration of low carbon and renewable energy, as well as for the electrification of road transport and more and more end uses. The need for a rapid evolution towards low-carbon, economical and socially-acceptable grids is challenging the current power system operation and planning practices. The emerging paradigm is to move away from prime reliance on bulk supply-side controls, wide safety margins and highly redundant infrastructure. The evolution within electric grids is widely associated with the development of technologies necessary to capture and exploit the intrinsic flexibilities of networks and their interconnected components. In fact, a flexible network is one capable of dealing with uncertainty and lessened safety margins at a lower cost while still delivering electricity reliably to all consumers. Recent work has been addressing the concept of power system flexibility and dealt with defining flexibility as provided by power system resources, defining and characterizing flexibility requirements for power systems and formulating methodologies to match resources to requirements. The element that has been mostly left out of the flexibility equation has been the network, i.e. the wires, whose role is to channel flexibility from where it is available to where it is needed. There is a vast open field of research on the role of networks as channels of flexibility and associated methodologies and requirements for low-carbon power systems operation and planning. The proposed research program will target both high-voltage transmission and medium-voltage distribution grids as well as their interface. On the transmission side, we will focus mainly on rethinking long-term bulk grid planning approaches in a context where most generation is from renewable intermittent sources. In distribution, the main research thrust will be the operationalization of active network management exploiting the new control and sensing possibilities offered by smart meters and automation. The transmission/distribution interface will also be addressed to investigate how the introduction of flexibility constraints and processes in transmission could influence constraints and processes in distribution and vice versa. We look to exploit synergies between different grid levels, while also looking at cross-network adjudication of opposing requirements. Canadians and Canadian businesses are set to benefit greatly from more rational design and operation of electricity grids in terms of lower rates, better reliability and lower carbon impact. The results of this work will contribute to streamlining the decarbonization of the electricity industry in Canada by offering guidance to electric utilities on optimizing grid capital investments and on integrating low-carbon generation.