Operational flexibility of electrified transport and thermal units in distribution grid

The decentralised infrastructure of the Danish thermal and electricity infrastructure has improved security, efficiency and reliability in energy transmission and consumption in each of the systems. To further improve this trend, this paper investigates the concept of decentralised coupling of electrified thermal and transportation system in low voltage residential network to identify their operational flexibility. In this paper, diagnosis based on actual data from the energy distributors and surveys is used to understand and improve the flexibility of an integrated energy system. The main contribution is a set up model with an autonomous control system that can assess the potential flexibility from thermal units (eg heat pumps and storages) and electric vehicles (EV) charging systems, in the low voltage distribution network as a multi-energy system. Each thermal system and EV charging has its respective individual controller. The proposed control technique manages to successfully operate and control the thermal units and EVs charging system within the recommended operating limits of grid voltage, and by sharing flexibility within the specific network integrated with multi-carrier energy systems. It has the capability of sensing local key control parameters like node voltage, state of charge of EV, temperature and level of hot water in the storage tank. These control parameters allow scheduling, re-scheduling, and decision making on the operation of individual thermal and EV charging-unit with operational priorities. This enhances the sharing of flexibility for proper coordination, control, and management of thermal and EV charging systems in low voltage (LV) distribution networks with mutual technical benefits. From the results of the steady-state analysis of power system, the application of the proposed control architecture is found to be effective to manage grid congestions and local voltage control, satisfying the thermal energy requirements of the customer as well as charging needs of EV.