A market-based smart grid approach to increasing power grid capacity without physical grid expansion

• Published in: Computer science (Berlin, Germany) Germany), 2018-02, Vol.33 (1-2), p.177-183
• Main Authors: Bagemihl, Joachim, Boesner, Frank, Riesinger, Jens, Künzli, Michael, Wilke, Gwendolin, Binder, Gabriela, Wache, Holger, Laager, Daniel, Breit, Jürgen, Wurzinger, Michael, Zapata, Juliana, Ulli-Beer, Silvia, Layec, Vincent, Stadler, Thomas, Stabauer, Franz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Computer Hardware; Computer Science; Computer Systems Organization and Communication Networks; Data Structures and Information Theory; Software Engineering/Programming and Operating Systems; Special Issue Paper; Theory of Computation
• ISSN: 1865-2034; 1865-2042
• DOI: 10.1007/s00450-017-0356-5

The continuous increase of competitiveness of renewable energy in combination with the necessity of fossil fuel substitution leads to further electrification of the global energy system and therefore a need for large-scale power grid capacity increase. While physical grid expansion is not feasible for many countries, grid-driven energy management in the Smart Grid often interferes in customer processes and free access to the energy market. The paper solves this dilemma by proposing a market-based load schedule management approach that increases power grid capacity without physical grid expansion. This is achieved by allocating for a certain class of non-critical flexible loads called “conditional loads” the currently unused grid capacity dedicated to ensuring N - 1 security of supply whereas this security level remains untouched for all critical processes. The paper discusses the necessary processes and technical and operational requirements to operate such a system.