Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain)
October 4th, 2024
Summary:
This thesis compares local energy trading (LET) with the home energy management system (HEMS) in terms of energy community (EC) operation costs and interaction with the retailer in a Spanish-like case study. Moreover, to the author’s knowledge, this thesis is the first study to focus on assessing the impacts of LET and HEMS on unbalanced low voltage distribution network (LVDN), considering distributed energy resources' flexibility. The results show that LET reduces the EC operation cost compared to the corresponding HEMS scenarios. LET results in increased self-generation and self-sufficiency. However, LET increases the community peak demand from the retailer and causes higher impacts on the unbalanced LVDN than HEMS.
Next, the effect of considering contracted power costs in the LET optimization model in reducing the impacts on unbalanced LVDN is studied. The results showed that the proposed approach reduces the peak demand of the EC by 34.3% without affecting its economic performance, energy exchange with the retailer, and amount of energy traded locally. Moreover, the proposed approach prevents violations of LVDN limits in the LET scenario that does not consider contracted power cost in the optimization model.
Then, an optimization model is developed for optimal photovoltaic (PV) and batteries sizing to minimize the total annual costs. Uncertainties of demand, PV generation, electricity prices, and electric vehicles are considered. The results showed that optimal planning achieved a 10.95% reduction in annual costs compared to the scenario without optimal planning.
Finally, limited focus in the literature compared the performance and economic viability of different technologies that could be used to implement LET. Therefore, the thesis compares several market models for LET developed on various technologies, such as a centralized server and a distributed ledger (i.e., blockchain). The output-based quantitative comparison highlights the limitations and advantages of different market models and implementations. Results show that there is not a single best solution of general validity. A centralized double auction market is faster, while a distributed continuous double auction market guarantees larger energy traded locally. Moreover, it is found that public blockchain technology still has several limitations for the tested application and assumed conditions that do not allow its efficient applicability to LET.
Spanish layman's summary:
La tesis analiza los beneficios y los impactos asociados al intercambio local de energía en las redes de distribución. Además, analiza el tamaño óptimo de los recursos energéticos distribuidos para el intercambio local de energía. Además, explora la idoneidad de la tecnología blockchain en el intercambio local de energía.
English layman's summary:
The thesis studies the benefits and associated impacts of local energy trading on distribution networks. Moreover, it studies the optimal size of distributed energy resources in local energy trading. Furthermore, it studies the suitability of blockchain technology in local energy trading.
Descriptors: Electricity applications, Transmission and distribution, Power distribution
Keywords: peer to peer energy trading, energy communities, local energy trading, distributed energy resources, network tariffs, blockchain
Citation:
M. Nour (2024), Evaluating local energy trading for massive integration of distributed energy resources. Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Madrid (Spain).
