More Wind Power Integration with Adjusted Energy Carriers for Space Heating in Northern China

Hongyu Long, Kunyao Xu, Ruilin Xu and Jianjun He
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Hongyu Long: Postdoctoral Workstation of the Chongqing Electric Power Corporation, Chongqing 400015, China
Kunyao Xu: Chongqing Electric Power Corporation, Chongqing 400014, China
Ruilin Xu: Chongqing Electric Power Research Institute, Chongqing 401123, China
Jianjun He: Chongqing Electric Power Research Institute, Chongqing 401123, China

Energies, 2012, vol. 5, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: In Northern China, due to the high penetration of coal-fired cogeneration facilities, which are generally equipped with extraction-condensing steam turbines, lots of wind power resources may be wasted during the heating season. In contrast, considerable coal is consumed in the power generation sector. In this article, firstly it is revealed that there exists a serious divergence in the ratio of electrical to thermal energy between end users’ demand and the cogenerations’ production during off-peak load at night, which may negate active power-balancing of the electric power grid. Secondly, with respect to this divergence only occurring during off-peak load at night, a temporary proposal is given so as to enable the integration of more wind power. The authors suggest that if the energy carrier for part of the end users’ space heating is switched from heating water to electricity (e.g., electric heat pumps (EHPs) can provide space heating in the domestic sector), the ratio of electricity to heating water load should be adjusted to optimize the power dispatch between cogeneration units and wind turbines, resulting in fuel conservation. With this proposal, existing infrastructures are made full use of, and no additional ones are required. Finally a numerical simulation is performed in order to illustrate both the technical and economic feasibility of the aforementioned proposal, under ongoing infrastructures as well as electricity and space heating tariff conditions without changing participants’ benefits. The authors aim to persuade Chinese policy makers to enable EHPs to provide space heating to enable the integration of more wind power.

Keywords: electric heat pumps (EHPs); electric heating; coal-fired cogeneration; energy carriers; wind power integration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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