System operators have a variety of tools at their disposal to improve power system flexibility. Some are easy, fast, and inexpensive, while others are more complex, time-intensive, and costly.
Main Points
- There are three main ways to increase power system flexibility: operational changes, flexible demand side options, and flexible supply side options.
- Some flexibility measures, like adding storage or transmission capacity, fall into more than one category.
- Flexibility measures may involve different sets of stakeholders, including policymakers, system operators, distribution utilities, power producers, regulators, and investors.
- Each flexibility measure must be carefully considered to evaluate who it will impact, what it will cost, and how long it will take to implement.
First, Read This
Operational changes to increase system flexibility include implementing faster dispatching, improving generation forecasting, enlarging or coordinating balancing areas, monitoring ancillary service needs, and more.
Read Excerpt: Page 31 of Power System Flexibility for the Energy Transition by IRENA.
Next, Read This
Demand-side measures to increase system flexibility include strategically using demand response and energy efficiency, implementing sector coupling, upgrading distribution infrastructure, and adding energy storage.
Demand response can be used along with energy storage to further reduce VRE curtailment. Demand response refers to specific types of demand-side management programmes where the demand pattern is shifted to better match electricity supply. Demand response is an effective method that provides an opportunity for consumers to play a role in the operation of the grid by adjusting their electricity consumption subject to price signals or long-term direct-control agreements.
Text excerpt from Page 30 of IRENA: Power System Flexibility for the Energy Transition – Part 1
And This
Supply-side options to increase system flexibility include boosting flexibility of existing generators, adding new generators, adding transmission capacity, and adding energy storage.
Supply-side flexibility is closely related to the performance of the technologies comprising the generation fleet of a power system. More specifically, a flexible generator is one that can ramp up or down fast, has a low minimum operating level and fast start-up and shutdown times (IEA, 2018). For example, hydro generators and open-cycle gas turbines are considered to be among the most flexible conventional generation types, while large steam turbines such as those in coal and nuclear generators usually are on the less flexible side of the spectrum; however, due to current emphasis on system flexibility, modern designs offer improved performance, especially for coal technologies. Nuclear power plants have varying levels of flexibility depending on the unit design and type (e. g., boiling water reactors versus pressurised water reactors).
Text excerpt from pages 25-27 of IRENA: Power System Flexibility for the Energy Transition – Part 1
Finally, Review This Table
Each flexibility option involves a unique set of power system stakeholders and has unique strengths and limitations. Selecting a flexibility option depends on the needs of your power system, as well as available budget and institutional capacity.
Read Table: Strengths and Limitations of Common Flexibility Measures by NREL.
Now, Explore Flexibility Measures in More Detail
Use the Clean Power Hub’s Smart Selection Tool to learn more about your system flexibility options and choose the measures right for you.
Choose a Measure to Increase Power System Flexibility – Coming Soon.
Jump to the Energy Transition Academy’s Smart Selection Tool.
Suggested Actions & Next Steps
- Review the table above and make a list of the flexibility measures you’re most interested in. Is the measure an operational, demand-side, or supply side intervention? Who is impacted by the measure?
- Begin to think: What stakeholders will you need to engage for the flexibility measure you’ve listed above?
- Use the Energy Transition Academy’s Smart Selection tool (coming soon) to explore and choose flexibility measures right for you.