15 Challenges of Today’s Energy Distribution
-
Thomas Dürr
Abstract
The energy transition will take place primarily in the distribution network. Having been very hesitant about this change for a long time, and now that in some countries politicians have also increased their environmental goals, grid operators and municipal utilities must prepare themselves. In order to get electric vehicles and heat pumps into the grid in significantly larger numbers in a timely manner, there needs to be an acceleration and digitalization in the approval processes, but also a connection of the entire supply chain and IT processes that are still separate today. There will not be more personnel. The conversion will cost money, so expansion costs should be reduced by using measurements and digital twins to simulate and control the grid. However, this requires distribution network operators, smart gateway administrators, and charging point operators to talk to each other and coordinate their efforts. In addition, there is a need for an adapted regulatory framework that provides appropriate incentives not only for hardware, but also finally for software and services. The EU Green Deal addresses the issues of CO2, climate neutrality and circular economy. This is a requirement that the energy sector must meet. In the following, these points will be discussed in detail from a strategic/political point of view, as well as from the experience of numerous worldwide projects.
Abstract
The energy transition will take place primarily in the distribution network. Having been very hesitant about this change for a long time, and now that in some countries politicians have also increased their environmental goals, grid operators and municipal utilities must prepare themselves. In order to get electric vehicles and heat pumps into the grid in significantly larger numbers in a timely manner, there needs to be an acceleration and digitalization in the approval processes, but also a connection of the entire supply chain and IT processes that are still separate today. There will not be more personnel. The conversion will cost money, so expansion costs should be reduced by using measurements and digital twins to simulate and control the grid. However, this requires distribution network operators, smart gateway administrators, and charging point operators to talk to each other and coordinate their efforts. In addition, there is a need for an adapted regulatory framework that provides appropriate incentives not only for hardware, but also finally for software and services. The EU Green Deal addresses the issues of CO2, climate neutrality and circular economy. This is a requirement that the energy sector must meet. In the following, these points will be discussed in detail from a strategic/political point of view, as well as from the experience of numerous worldwide projects.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- List of Contributing Authors V
- Foreword by Professor Andris Piebalgs, Former EU Commissioner for Energy XI
- Foreword by Dr. Peter Körte, Chief Technology Officer & Chief Strategy Officer at Siemens AG XV
- Preface of the Editors XIX
- Contents XXV
- Abbreviations XXXI
- Frequently Used Metric Prefixes and Physical Quantities XLV
- 1 History and Current Challenges of Electrical Power Supply Systems 1
- 2 General Technical Aspects of the Electrical Power System: A Case Study of the German Power System in Transition 37
- 3 Power Sector Transformation: An Indian Perspective 53
- 4 Major Non-technical Questions of Today’s Energy Supply: Between Energy Policy and Regulation 95
- 5 Scenarios for the Energy System 111
- 6 How Europe Regulates the Internal Energy Market 127
- 7 Requirements for the Reliability of Energy System Planning 137
- 8 Currents of Change: Electrification for a Greener Future 151
- 9 Understanding the Levelized Cost of Energy 167
- 10 Influence of CO2 Targets on Energy Planning: Optimal Energy Supply from a Climate Perspective 185
- 11 Energy Planning With a Special Focus on Hard-To-Abate Sectors and Decarbonization 203
- 12 Energy Storage Technologies in Support of the Energy Transition and Climate Neutrality 235
- 13 Electrical Supply Infrastructure Under Transformation 249
- 14 Innovation (Not Only) in the Grid Sector: Market and Regulation Also Require Reinvention 275
- 15 Challenges of Today’s Energy Distribution 303
- 16 Resilience: Considering Disruptive Events in the Energy Planning of Buildings and Neighborhoods 335
- 17 Siemens Princeton Resilient Campus: Defining the Future of Energy with a Sustainable and Reliable Microgrid 351
- 18 Introduction to Energy Trading and the Role of Energy Exchanges 361
- 19 The Role of Power Exchanges (PX) in the Energy Transition: Between Cross-Border and Local Trading 375
- 20 Energy Markets, Grids and Flexibility: A Future Market Design for a Decarbonized Energy System 395
- 21 Local Trading Within Energy Communities 419
- 22 Verification Methods for Renewable Electricity: Guarantees of Origin, PPAs, and Renewable Fuels of Non-biological Origin 435
- 23 The Unique German Smart Metering Approach in Contrast to International Strategies 453
- 24 Real-Time as a Natural System Boundary 473
- 25 Internet of Things (IoT) and Sensor Technology in Electrical Energy Supply Systems 495
- 26 The Perfect Storm: Where the Energy Transition Meets the Digital Transformation 509
- 27 The Dark Side of Digitalization 529
- 28 Artificial Intelligence and Data Efficiency 543
- 29 Aspects of Data Protection and Security in Smart Electronical Systems out of “European Perspective” 565
- 30 Actively Shaping the Digital Transformation Process with Systemic Organizational Development 581
- 31 New IT for the Digital Energy of the Future 609
- 32 Connecting and Digitalizing the Energy Sector with a Dynamic IT Strategy 629
- 33 Information Security and Digitalization at Distribution System Operators 649
- 34 Digital Efficiency – a Powerful Tool! 671
- 35 Asset Management in the Energy Transition: Requirements and Technologies 695
- 36 Power Shortage Situation 715
- 37 Blackout: The European Electricity Supply System in Transition 733
- 38 Everyday Life Without Electricity in the Household Customer Sector 781
- 39 Technical Requirements and Implications of Functioning Sector Coupling 791
- 40 Transition from Planning to Implementation of District Projects with Sector Coupling 819
- 41 Green Hydrogen Potentials for the Power Sector in Germany 831
- 42 Electricity is Easy, Fuels are Hard: Lessons from the Maritime Industry 843
- 43 Project example “pebbles” 867
- 44 New Digital Technologies Find Their Way into the Grid Sector 889
- 45 Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG), and Digitalization in the Commercial Real Estate Industry 909
- 46 Scenarios for Training and Continuing Education 923
- 47 Electricity Market and Electricity System Transformation: North American Perspective 943
- Index 953
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- List of Contributing Authors V
- Foreword by Professor Andris Piebalgs, Former EU Commissioner for Energy XI
- Foreword by Dr. Peter Körte, Chief Technology Officer & Chief Strategy Officer at Siemens AG XV
- Preface of the Editors XIX
- Contents XXV
- Abbreviations XXXI
- Frequently Used Metric Prefixes and Physical Quantities XLV
- 1 History and Current Challenges of Electrical Power Supply Systems 1
- 2 General Technical Aspects of the Electrical Power System: A Case Study of the German Power System in Transition 37
- 3 Power Sector Transformation: An Indian Perspective 53
- 4 Major Non-technical Questions of Today’s Energy Supply: Between Energy Policy and Regulation 95
- 5 Scenarios for the Energy System 111
- 6 How Europe Regulates the Internal Energy Market 127
- 7 Requirements for the Reliability of Energy System Planning 137
- 8 Currents of Change: Electrification for a Greener Future 151
- 9 Understanding the Levelized Cost of Energy 167
- 10 Influence of CO2 Targets on Energy Planning: Optimal Energy Supply from a Climate Perspective 185
- 11 Energy Planning With a Special Focus on Hard-To-Abate Sectors and Decarbonization 203
- 12 Energy Storage Technologies in Support of the Energy Transition and Climate Neutrality 235
- 13 Electrical Supply Infrastructure Under Transformation 249
- 14 Innovation (Not Only) in the Grid Sector: Market and Regulation Also Require Reinvention 275
- 15 Challenges of Today’s Energy Distribution 303
- 16 Resilience: Considering Disruptive Events in the Energy Planning of Buildings and Neighborhoods 335
- 17 Siemens Princeton Resilient Campus: Defining the Future of Energy with a Sustainable and Reliable Microgrid 351
- 18 Introduction to Energy Trading and the Role of Energy Exchanges 361
- 19 The Role of Power Exchanges (PX) in the Energy Transition: Between Cross-Border and Local Trading 375
- 20 Energy Markets, Grids and Flexibility: A Future Market Design for a Decarbonized Energy System 395
- 21 Local Trading Within Energy Communities 419
- 22 Verification Methods for Renewable Electricity: Guarantees of Origin, PPAs, and Renewable Fuels of Non-biological Origin 435
- 23 The Unique German Smart Metering Approach in Contrast to International Strategies 453
- 24 Real-Time as a Natural System Boundary 473
- 25 Internet of Things (IoT) and Sensor Technology in Electrical Energy Supply Systems 495
- 26 The Perfect Storm: Where the Energy Transition Meets the Digital Transformation 509
- 27 The Dark Side of Digitalization 529
- 28 Artificial Intelligence and Data Efficiency 543
- 29 Aspects of Data Protection and Security in Smart Electronical Systems out of “European Perspective” 565
- 30 Actively Shaping the Digital Transformation Process with Systemic Organizational Development 581
- 31 New IT for the Digital Energy of the Future 609
- 32 Connecting and Digitalizing the Energy Sector with a Dynamic IT Strategy 629
- 33 Information Security and Digitalization at Distribution System Operators 649
- 34 Digital Efficiency – a Powerful Tool! 671
- 35 Asset Management in the Energy Transition: Requirements and Technologies 695
- 36 Power Shortage Situation 715
- 37 Blackout: The European Electricity Supply System in Transition 733
- 38 Everyday Life Without Electricity in the Household Customer Sector 781
- 39 Technical Requirements and Implications of Functioning Sector Coupling 791
- 40 Transition from Planning to Implementation of District Projects with Sector Coupling 819
- 41 Green Hydrogen Potentials for the Power Sector in Germany 831
- 42 Electricity is Easy, Fuels are Hard: Lessons from the Maritime Industry 843
- 43 Project example “pebbles” 867
- 44 New Digital Technologies Find Their Way into the Grid Sector 889
- 45 Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG), and Digitalization in the Commercial Real Estate Industry 909
- 46 Scenarios for Training and Continuing Education 923
- 47 Electricity Market and Electricity System Transformation: North American Perspective 943
- Index 953
