Analysing renewable energy flow distribution and its influence on grid electricity prices

Abstract

The paper presents an approach to the assessment of technical and economic efficiency for an electric energy (EE) transport in a distribution grid. It is focused on the extent of renewable energy sources (RES) integration efficiency according to energy prices in a grid. A two-step procedure for calculation is used in terms of the approach. The first one includes the obtaining of energy flows distribution in a grid. The next step provides the calculation of costs flows and nodal prices for electric energy. Both stages are performed using a developed branch flow model. Unlike power flow distribution describing the instant point of time, energy flow distribution developed for any operation duration deals with the integral values of the flows. This is of great importance for the deeply varying output profiles of the intermittent renewables. The model provides the direct utilization of electric energy meters data available in a grid. The approach presented is essential for locating the particular consumers of the renewable energy in terms of a grid’s deep state and circuit diversity as well as for analyzing the influence of a renewable energy for electricity prices, and estimating the necessary renewables’ levelised cost of energy (LCOE).