Infrastructural coupling of the electricity and gas distribution grid to reduce renewable energy curtailment

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 288; p. 116597
• Main Authors: Henni, Sarah, Staudt, Philipp, Kandiah, Balendra, Weinhardt, Christof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.04.2021
• Subjects: case studies; Distribution network; economic feasibility; electricity; electricity generation; European Union; Germany; GIS-modelling; Infrastructural sector coupling; infrastructure; Power-to-Gas; renewable energy sources; Renewable generation integration; Germany; GIS-modelling; Infrastructural sector coupling; Distribution network; Power-to-Gas; Renewable generation integration
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116597

Following the European Union’s emission reduction goals, the expansion of intermittent renewable energy sources is being pursued by numerous member states. This poses challenges especially to low-voltage electricity grids that are not designed for the volatile and unpredictable feed-in from renewable generation capacity. In addition to the expansion of renewable capacity, further measures, including the decarbonization of the transport, heating and industrial sectors are needed to achieve the environmental targets. Sector coupling refers to the electrification of end-user energy demand as well as the coupling of different energy infrastructures such as the electricity and gas networks through Power-to-Gas technology. In this paper, we address these issues by developing a methodology that enables distribution system operators to identify future grid constraints in advance and to address them using Power-to-Gas technology using geographical information systems. In further detail, we present a novel approach to identify sections of the distribution network that are likely to be congested in the future in order to locate congestion-induced potential sites for Power-to-Gas plants. We show the applicability of our approach in a case study for a municipality in the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg. We show the economic feasibility of a medium-sized Power-to-Gas plant that couples the gas and electricity distribution networks. Our findings offer insights into the possibility to use the existing gas infrastructure in order to integrate surplus electricity generation, avoid electricity grid congestion and to further decarbonize energy demand. •A framework for the spatial and temporal resolution of energy scenarios•Identification of distribution network sections subject to congestion•Geo-referenced model to identify potential PtG sites•Case study to illustrate the profitability of a PtG plant in the distribution network