Abstract: The increasing proliferation of renewable energy resources and new sizeable loads like electric vehicle (EV) charging stations has posed many technical and operational challenges to distribution grids [1]. Encouraged by attractive tax incentives and promotion policies, local grid end consumers are becoming not only consumers of electricity but, in many cases, also producers. The actual electric distribution system limits the use of renewable energy resources, offers poor EV infrastructure, and is based on a unidirectional information flow from sources to control centers.

Abstract: We estimate the effects of electricity shortages on Indian manufacturers, instrumenting with supply shifts from hydroelectric power availability. We estimate that India’s average reported level of shortages reduces the average plant’s revenues and producer surplus by 5 to 10 percent, but average productivity losses are significantly smaller because most inputs can be stored during outages. Shortages distort the plant size distribution, as there are significant economies of scale in generator costs and shortages more severely affect plants without generators. Simulations show that offering interruptible retail electricity contracts could substantially reduce the impacts of shortages. (JEL D24, L60, L94, O13, O14, Q41) In this paper, we ask: How do electricity shortages affect input choices, reve nue, and productivity in the Indian manufacturing sector? One potential prior is that because electricity is an essential input—most factories cannot produce anything without electricity for lights, motors, and machines—shortages could significantly reduce output. On the other hand, many firms might insure themselves against outages by purchasing generators or otherwise substituting away from grid electricity precisely because the potential losses are so large. The limited existing evidence could support either argument. Foster and Steinbuks (2009) and others argue that the cost of self-generation is relatively small, and Alam (2013) and Fisher-Vanden, Mansur, and Wang (2015) highlight ways in which plants substitute away from

Abstract: Electric vehicles can become integral parts of a smart grid, since they are capable of providing valuable services to power systems other than just consuming power. On the transmission system level, electric vehicles are regarded as an important means of balancing the intermittent renewable energy resources such as wind power. This is because electric vehicles can be used to absorb the energy during the period of high electricity penetration and feed the electricity back into the grid when the demand is high or in situations of insufficient electricity generation. However, on the distribution system level, the extra loads created by the increasing number of electric vehicles may have adverse impacts on grid. These factors bring new challenges to the power system operators. To coordinate the interests and solve the conflicts, electric vehicle fleet operators are proposed both by academics and industries. This paper presents a review and classification of methods for smart charging (including power to vehicle and vehicle-to-grid) of electric vehicles for fleet operators. The study firstly presents service relationships between fleet operators and other four actors in smart grids; then, modeling of battery dynamics and driving patterns of electric vehicles, charging and communications standards are introduced; after that, three control strategies and their commonly used algorithms are described; finally, conclusion and recommendations are made.

Abstract: We combine a theoretical discrete-choice model of vehicle purchases, an econometric analysis of electricity emissions, and the AP2 air pollution model to estimate the geographic variation in the environmental benefits from driving electric vehicles. The second-best electric vehicle purchase subsidy ranges from $2,785 in California to -$4,964 in North Dakota, with a mean of -$1,095. Ninety percent of local environmental externalities from driving electric vehicles in one state are exported to others, implying they may be subsidized locally, even when the environmental benefits are negative overall. Geographically differentiated subsidies can reduce deadweight loss, but only modestly.

Abstract: In many electric systems worldwide the penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) at the distribution levels is increasing. This penetration brings in different challenges for electricity system management; however if the flexibility of those DER is well managed opportunities arise for coordination. At high voltage levels under responsibility of the system operator, trading mechanisms like contracts for ancillary services and balancing markets provide opportunities for economic efficient supply of system flexibility services. In a situation with smart metering and real-time management of distribution networks, similar arrangements could be enabled for medium- and low-voltage levels. This paper presents a review and classification of existing DER as flexibility providers and a breakdown of trading platforms for DER flexibility in electricity markets.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation are a major cause of anthropogenic climate change. The deployment of wind and solar power reduces these emissions, but is subject to the variability of the weather. In the present study, we calculate the cost-optimized configuration of variable electrical power generators using weather data with high spatial (13-km) and temporal (60-min) resolution over the contiguous US. Our results show that when using future anticipated costs for wind and solar, carbon dioxide emissions from the US electricity sector can be reduced by up to 80% relative to 1990 levels, without an increase in the levelized cost of electricity. The reductions are possible with current technologies and without electrical storage. Wind and solar power increase their share of electricity production as the system grows to encompass large-scale weather patterns. This reduction in carbon emissions is achieved by moving away from a regionally divided electricity sector to a national system enabled by high-voltage direct-current transmission. Combined energy and weather modelling suggests that CO2 emissions from the US electricity sector can be reduced by up to 80% using existing technologies, and without increasing the cost of electricity.

Abstract: Renewables are going to make our planet a better place to live. These clean resources of energy can bring a handful of advantages to the future electricity industries. Nevertheless, the large percentage of renewables integration can cause some operational issues, in power systems, which are needed to be identified and coped with. This paper defines, classifies and discusses the latest flexibility treatments in power system based on a comprehensive literature study. The current work specifically considers the abilities, barriers, and inherent attributes of power systems’ potential to deal with high integration of Variable Generations (VGs) in future flexible power systems.

Abstract: Electricity plays a dominant role to the citizens׳ well-being and the social prosperity of the developed economies. Electricity perspectives have attracted the research interest of the scientific community during the last two decades due to its determining impact upon transportation modes (electric-based mobility: electric vehicles–EVs, hybrid cars, and electric drive-trains), energy-consumed household tasks (Smart House and Smart Grid concepts), working environment, and leisure activities. Electricity generation is mainly determined by the following features: on-grid (mainland) and off-grid (including exploitation of renewables in remote areas) production, peak (during the day) and off-peak (during the night) daytimes of energy production and consumption, efficient and reliable power supply, capability and reliability of energy storage technologies, energy market potential in the future. This study further explores the following issues: which technologies will be most needed, in which technologies there is room for further development, which policy considerations will influence rollout and penetration, and what implementation problems may be expected. Finally, this study addresses a wide spectrum of energy policies regarding the electrochemical, mechanical, and thermal energy storage technologies. In parallel, the study discussed global regulatory regimes of the post-2015 development agenda of Rio20+ United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development that should be adapted to electricity generation under the political initiatives of “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs) and “Millennium Development Goals” (MDGs). Finally, the key-issues of research, operation, applicability, and pricing trend of energy storage technologies are addressed while the future orientations of these technologies are outlined.

Abstract: This paper studies the role of hourly economic demand response in the optimization of the stochastic day-ahead scheduling of electric power systems with natural gas transmission constraints. The proposed coordinated stochastic model (referred to as EGTran) considers random outages of generating units and transmission lines, and random errors in forecasting the day-ahead hourly loads. The Monte Carlo simulation is applied to create multiple scenarios for representing the coordinated system uncertainties. The nonlinear natural gas network constraints are linearized and incorporated into the stochastic model. Numerical results demonstrate the benefits of applying the hourly economic demand response for enhancing the scheduling coordination of natural gas and electricity networks. It is demonstrated that electricity demand response would offer a less volatile hourly load profile and locational marginal prices, and less dependence on natural gas constraints for the optimal operation of electric power systems. The proposed model for EGTran could be applied by grid operators for the hourly commitment and dispatch of power system units.

Abstract: The primary goal of this study is to investigate the effect of increasing battery size and driving range to the environmental impact of electric vehicles (EVs). To this end, we compile cradle-to-grave inventories for EVs in four size segments to determine their climate change potential. A second objective is to compare the lifecycle emissions of EVs to those of conventional vehicles. For this purpose, we collect lifecycle emissions for conventional vehicles reported by automobile manufacturers. The lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are calculated per vehicle and over a total driving range of 180 000 km using the average European electricity mix. Process-based attributional LCA and the ReCiPe characterisation method are used to estimate the climate change potential from the hierarchical perspective. The differently sized EVs are compared to one another to find the effect of increasing the size and range of EVs. We also point out the sources of differences in lifecycle emissions between conventional- and electric vehicles. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis assesses the change in lifecycle emissions when electricity with various energy sources power the EVs. The sensitivity analysis also examines how the use phase electricity sources influences the size and range effect.

Abstract: A key problem with solar energy is intermittency: solar generators produce only when the sun is shining, adding to social costs and requiring electricity system operators to reoptimize key decisions. We develop a method to quantify the economic value of large-scale renewable energy. We estimate the model for southeastern Arizona. Not accounting for offset carbon dioxide, we find social costs of $138.40 per megawatt hour for 20 percent solar generation, of which unforecastable intermittency accounts for $6.10 and intermittency overall for $46.00. With solar installation costs of $1.52 per watt and carbon dioxide social costs of $39.00 per ton, 20 percent solar would be welfare neutral.

Abstract: Expanding the use of wind energy for electricity generation forms an integral part of China’s efforts to address degraded air quality and climate change. However, the integration of wind energy into China’s coal-heavy electricity system presents significant challenges owing to wind’s variability and the grid’s system-wide inflexibilities. Here we develop a model to predict how much wind energy can be generated and integrated into China’s electricity mix, and estimate a potential production of 2.6 petawatt-hours (PWh) per year in 2030. Although this represents 26% of total projected electricity demand, it is only 10% of the total estimated physical potential of wind resources in the country. Increasing the operational flexibility of China’s coal fleet would allow wind to deliver nearly three-quarters of China’s target of producing 20% of primary energy from non-fossil sources by 2030. Increasing generation of clean energy from wind resources will help China meet its 2030 energy-mix target and combat climate change. Davidson et al. model the wind energy generation potential of China, estimating a grid-integrated potential of 2.6 PWh per year in 2030.

Abstract: The evolution of the use of electricity in marine vessels is presented and discussed in this paper in an historical perspective. The historical account starts with its first commercial use in the form of light bulbs on the SS Columbia in 1880 for illumination, going forward through use in hybrid propulsion systems with steam turbines and diesel engines and then transitioning to the present with the first fully electric marine vessel based entirely on the use of batteries in 2015. Electricity use is discussed not only in the light of its many benefits but also of the challenges introduced after the emergence of the marine vessel electrical power system. The impact of new conversion technologies like power electronics, battery energy storage, and the dc power system on overall energy efficiency, power quality, and emission level is discussed thoroughly. This paper guides the reader through this development, the present and future challenges by calling attention to the future research needs, and the need to revisit standards that relate to power quality, safety, integrity, and stability of the marine vessel power system, which are strongly impacted by the way electricity is used in the marine vessel.