INTEGRATE: Integrating seasoNal Thermal storagE with multiple enerGy souRces to decArbonise Thermal Energy

该项目评估了季节性热能储存（STES）系统的潜力，以促进供暖和制冷的脱碳，同时为未来的净零能源系统提供灵活的服务。气候变化委员会最近的报告强调，要达到净零，建筑，工业和电力部门需要完全脱碳。目前的估计是，英国总能源需求的44%是由于热需求，热需求具有很大的季节性变化（冬季比夏季高出约6倍）和高的早高峰上升率（热需求的增长比电力需求的增长快10倍）。目前，约80%的热量是通过天然气电网提供的，天然气电网提供了灵活性和能力来处理大而快的变化，但会导致大量的温室气体排放。虽然英国目前的制冷需求非常小，但预计将大幅增加：国家电网估计，到2050年，空调将使夏季高峰电力需求增加100%。在丹麦等国家，具有季节性热能储存（STES）的区域能源系统已经被证明是化石燃料供暖的负担得起的和更可持续的替代品，能够处理高升温率和季节性变化。然而，现有系统的设计和运作通常独立于更广泛的能源系统（电力、制冷、工业和运输部门），而事实表明，只有将所有能源部门结合起来并加以协调，才能找到最佳解决办法（就减排和成本而言）。特别是，与电力和小规模家庭蓄热相比，大型STES系统每安装千瓦时的成本约为100倍，可以释放一方面加热和冷却需求之间的协同效应，另一方面是工业，地热和废热以及可变的可再生发电。然而，由于不同的地下特征和不同的更广泛的能源系统背景，现有的系统不能直接转换到英国。此外，由于不同部门之间的复杂和非线性的相互作用，多部门的整合仍然是一个开放的挑战。本项目将通过考虑能源供应和需求之间的相互作用和协调，季节性热存储特性，以及监管和市场框架，开发具有STES的区域能源系统的整体和集成设计。来自各个地区的结果和模型将结合在一个完整的系统模型中，用于设计和运营智能区域能源系统。整个系统模型将用于开发城市、郊区和校园热能系统的代表性案例研究和指南，这些案例和指南基于STES系统的智能集成。研究结果将有助于开发和部署低碳供热和制冷系统，为客户提供负担得起的，灵活和可靠的热能，同时提高电网基础设施的利用率以及可再生能源发电资产和其他热源的整合。

This project evaluates the potential of Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (STES) systems to facilitate the decarbonisation of heating and cooling while at the same time providing flexibility services for the future net-zero energy system.The Committee on Climate Change's recent report highlighted that a complete decarbonisation of the building, industry and electricity sectors is required to reach net-zero. Current estimates are that 44% of the total energy demand in the UK is due to heat demand which has large seasonal variations (about 6 times higher in winter compared to summer) and high morning peak ramp-up rates (increase in heat demand is 10 times faster than the increase in electricity demand). Currently, around 80% of the heat is supplied through the natural gas grid which provides the flexibility and capacity to handle the large and fast variations but causes large greenhouse gas emissions. While cooling demand is currently very small in the UK, it is expected to increase significantly: National Grid estimates an increase of up to 100% of summer peak electricity demand due to air conditioning by 2050. In countries such as Denmark, district energy systems with Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (STES) are already proving to be affordable and more sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel-based heating that are able to handle the high ramp-up rates and seasonal variations. However, the existing systems are usually designed and operated independently from the wider energy system (electricity, cooling, industry and transport sectors), while it has been shown that the best solution (in terms of emissions reduction and cost) can only be found if all energy sectors are combined and coordinated. In particular, large STES systems which are around 100 times cheaper per installed kWh compared to both electricity and small scale domestic thermal storage, can unlock synergies between heating and cooling demand on one side, and industrial, geothermal and waste heat, and variable renewable electricity generation on the other side. However, the existing systems cannot be directly translated to the UK due to different subsurface characteristics and different wider energy system contexts. In addition, the multi-sector integration is still an open challenge due to the complex and nonlinear interactions between the different sectors.This project will develop a holistic and integrated design of district energy systems with STES by considering the interplay and coordination between energy supply and demand, seasonal thermal storage characteristics, and regulation and market frameworks. The results and models from the individual areas will be combined in a whole system model for the design and operation of smart district energy systems with STES. The whole system model will be used to develop representative case studies and guidelines for urban, suburban and campus thermal energy systems based around the smart integration of STES systems. The results will enable the development and deployment of low carbon heating and cooling systems that provide affordable, flexible and reliable thermal energy for the customers while also improving the utilisation of the grid infrastructure and the integration of renewable generation assets and other heat sources.