The Danish Perspective of Energy Internet: From Service-oriented Flexibility Trading to Integrated Design, Planning and Operation of Multiple Cross-sectoral Energy Systems

Abstract

Motivated by the success of internet technologies, Energy Internet, also referred as web-based smart grid (SG) or SG 2.0, is expected to offer innovative applications based on advanced connectivity and intelligent management of distributed energy resources (DER), systems and services with a strong focus on enabling a paradigm shift in the energy industry. Being the European leader in the development of SG technologies, Denmark has developed its unique understanding of the Energy Internet. Based on the learning from a number of research and development activities in Denmark, this paper introduces two important subjects of the Energy Internet from the Danish perspective, i.e., service-oriented flexibility trading and integrated design, planning and operation of multiple cross-sectoral energy systems. For a future energy system with high degree of uncertainties that have to be addressed second by second, such as wind power fluctuation, effective usage of flexibility is among the key solutions for achieving the same level of system redundancy as in today’s energy system with less investment. Such flexibility can be found in generation, transmission and distribution systems, customers, and energy markets etc. In Denmark, the study on flexibility covers the entire value chain including flexibility identification, flexibility characterization, flexibility operation and management, and developing a service-oriented flexibility trading platform. As illustrated in Fig. 1, several power system services are developed as market products, and the technical feasibility of flexibility clearing house (FLECH), i.e., the flexibility trading platform, were proofed by a live demonstration performed in November 2014 at SYSLAB of the Technical University of Denmark. The latter important subject of the Energy Internet from the Danish perspective emphasizes on the integration of multiple cross-sectoral energy systems in order to mobilize the flexibility of both the electrical sector and interconnected energy infrastructures. The related actions therefore cover integrated design, planning and operation. The presented examples qualitatively illustrate 1) how hydrogen as an alternative energy carrier is planned and operated in the Danish energy system; and 2) how the Danish EnergyLab Nordhavn will develop new design and planning methods to accommodate the emerging technologies while considering a cross-sectoral real time energy market that coordinates the flexibility of different energy systems in real time. Several computer toolkits developed by the Danish researchers to support this research area are also briefly reviewed.