Abstract
The European Union has set some ambitious targets to reach the goal of net-zero greenhouse gasses by 2050. The outlined scenarios provide the use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) on a large-scale, but to do so, different kinds of actions must be taken, because the ample amount of non-programmable electricity sources may cause grid management problems and a mismatch in the energy supply and demand. The vast increase of the Italian power demand, which typically occurs in the evening, necessarily requires a rapid increase in thermoelectric power generation. A possible solution to avoid this phenomenon is the optimization of photovoltaic production and storage and, simultaneously, the minimization of the Life-Cycle impact of these systems on the environment. This work aims to identify a methodology that supports the analysis and design of a production, self-consumption and storage system, which services a residential user aggregate, in order to reach an electric power demand optimization. In particular, the target is to obtain a Peak Shaving of the electrical demand power curve, by setting a limit on the maximum absorption of power from the grid, and supplying the rest of the user’s power needs through an electrical energy storage system, charged from the photovoltaic plant during the daily overproduction time. To do so, 14 dwelling power consumptions have been aggregated and analysed, starting from a data monitoring that occurred in January and June of 2019. The energy consumptions considered, are in line with the Italian average ones. The Peak Shaving strategy effectiveness has been evaluated by using a percentage parameter, that represents the number of power absorption peaks from the grid, avoided thanks to the storage system. In this study, some optimal system plant settings, in terms of maximum power absorption from the grid, photovoltaic nominal peak power and electrical storage capacity, are investigated to reach the set goals, and some solutions are presented, in light of the needs of the public grid where the system operates.
Highlights
Two of the central challenges of the 21st Century are to learn to mitigate and adapt to climate changes; for this reason, the EU has promoted several initiatives aimed at containing its long and middle-term effects, boosting the energy production from renewable energy sources (RES)
The Peak Shaving strategy effectiveness has been evaluated by using a percentage parameter, that represents the number of power absorption peaks from the grid, avoided thanks to the storage system
Renewable Energy Sources (RES) electrical system; the authors have conducted their simulations while considering different operating conditions, including a significant load shift obtained by DR activity
Summary
Two of the central challenges of the 21st Century are to learn to mitigate and adapt to climate changes; for this reason, the EU has promoted several initiatives aimed at containing its long and middle-term effects, boosting the energy production from renewable energy sources (RES). The main goal is to flatten the absorption load profile curve and to take into consideration other energy and environmental factors This methodology can facilitate the choice of who will design the plant systems, which will not be centred around the maximization of self-consumption but will focus on the production and storage, which provides services to the grid. This study represents an innovative approach never investigated in the Italian context, that sets as a goal an electrical-service that helps the grid management, and at once contribute to identify the potential role of Italian residential sector within the long-term strategy of progressively transforming the end users’ energy impact
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
