Decarbonizing the electricity grid: The impact on urban energy systems, distribution grids and district heating potential

Boran Morvaj, Ralph Evins and Jan Carmeliet

Applied Energy, 2017, vol. 191, issue C, 125-140

Abstract: Many energy policies set a goal of decreasing the carbon emissions of the energy sector by up to 100%, including the electricity grid. This is a long term and gradual process. Energy systems in cities will likely be the starting point for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation since they account for 80% of global carbon emissions. This paper analyses the impact on urban districts of decarbonizing the electric grid supply. A multi-objective optimization model has been developed that combines the optimal design and operation of distributed energy systems, the design of district heating (DH), electricity grid constraints based on linearized alternating current (AC) power flow and grid upgrade options. A number of scenarios were defined corresponding to different levels of renewable energy share in the electricity grid. For each scenario, we analyse the changes to the design and operation of the urban energy system, the impact on the district heating potential, and the impact on the operation of the distribution grid as well as the grid upgrade potential.

Keywords: Distributed energy systems; AC power flow; Electric grid upgrade; Multi-objective optimization; District heating potential (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (42)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.01.058

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