Unlocking Flexibility: Energy Systems Integration [Guest Editorial]

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2017 · IEEE Power & Energy Magazine

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/MPE.2016.2629703· OSTI ID:1345718

O'Malley, Mark; Kroposki, Benjamin

The articles in this special section focus on energy systems integration (ESI). Electric power systems around the world are experiencing great changes, including the retirement of coal and nuclear plants along with a rapid increase in the use of natural gas turbines and variable renewable technologies such as wind and solar. There is also much more use of information and communications technologies to enhance the visibility and controllability of the grid. Flexibility of operation, the ability of a power system to respond to change in demand and supply, is critical to enable higher levels of variable generation. One way to unlock this potential flexibility is to tap into other energy domains. This concept of interconnecting energy domains is called ESI. ESI is the process of coordinating the operation and planning of energy systems across multiple pathways and/or geographical scales to deliver reliable, cost-effective energy services with minimal impact on the environment. Integrating energy domains adds flexibility to the electrical power system. ESI includes interactions among energy vectors and with other large-scale infrastructures including water, transport, and data and communications networks, which are an enabling technology for ESI.

• Research Organization: NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States))
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1345718
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA-5D00-68051
• Journal Information: IEEE Power & Energy Magazine, Journal Name: IEEE Power & Energy Magazine Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 15; ISSN 1540-7977
• Publisher: IEEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
electricity supply industry
natural gas
power system planning
power system stability
renewable resources
resistance heating
system integration