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RAP’s recent publication, Taking First Steps: Insights for State Utility Commissions Preparing for Electric Transportation starts with the observation that “while no one state agency has clear responsibility for it, utility commissions are taking their first steps toward understanding… View Summary +

The market for electric vehicles — from cars to buses to delivery vans — continues to expand around the world, and the pace of innovation is accelerating. While current public health and economic challenges may pose a temporary roadblock, it… View Summary +

As the market for electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States continues to grow, states are beginning to pay more attention to the issues that arise. Although no one state agency has clear responsibility for it, utility commissions are taking… View Summary +
Electrification of the transportation sector (cars, trucks, buses, taxis, ports, etc.) provides an opportunity for states to save citizens money, increase local jobs and business, address national security concerns, improve public health and combat climate change. Real-world experience and studies… View Summary +

简介 电力系统最基本的规则是发输用电必须同时完成。多年来,电网运营商一直在确定系统的负荷,并通过增加可用的发电机来满足需求、调整供电。 然而,现在供应侧出现了快速爬坡和高度灵活的联合循环燃气轮机发电等新技术,需求侧也出现了智能热水器和储能等新技术,另外,输电能力和系统运行也得到了改善。这些新技术共同创造了巨大的机会,使电力系统比以往更加灵活。 同时,随着可再生能源(主要是风能和太阳能)并网的比例逐步提高,灵活性在电力系统中的重要性更加突出。 本文着眼于当今可用的各种灵活性资源,并在大量可再生能源电力系统背景下,探讨各种灵活性资源的潜力,以及它们如何共同作用,使电力系统更具经济性、可靠性且富有弹性。 灵活性来自供应侧和需求侧 在过去的几年中,风电和太阳能发电等关键技术的成本已大幅下降,装机速度显著提高。电池储能成本也在持续下降,电动汽车的成本得以降低。 清洁能源成本低,对经济和环境都是好消息。但是,新增可再生能源装机会增加对电网系统灵活性的需求。 这种巨大的灵活性需求使得“反调度”成为可能,即调度负荷以充分消纳可再生能源发电量。我们将分别介绍这些灵活性资源。 一是供应侧的灵活性资源。增加资源和地域的多样性可以充分利用供应侧的灵活性资源。 可再生资源不仅比现有发电资源组合成本更低,而且多样化的可再生能源组合,还提高了电力系统的灵活性。 以德州为例,其风电资源(两个地区)和太阳能发电具有不同但互补的出力曲线。这些资源结合起来,可以产生更平滑的曲线,更接近于系统需求。多样化的可再生资源和扩大平衡范围可以相互补充,从而使系统需求趋于平衡并减少对灵活性发电资源的需求。 美国西部能源不平衡市场(EIM)运行的很成功,说明了扩大市场的规模可以更好地利用可再生能源多样性。EIM是Western Interconnection中的实时平衡市场,具有较大的地理覆盖范围,成员间共享灵活性资源,所以每个成员所需的备用容量都下降了。 但是,更大的市场也可能产生大规模的额外成本,要减少这些成本,又需要更大的电网灵活性。许多大型电力批发市场如新英格兰ISO,电网是为高峰负荷而设计的,“将所有电网基础设施的规模调整到最高峰值的结果是系统效率低下,从2013年到2015年,新英格兰平均每年最高电价时段的用电量仅占全部用电量的1%,电费却占8%,而最高负荷时段的用电量10%则占其年度电费的40%(超过30亿美元 。 建立发电,输电和配电以及相关的天然气管网,却每年仅服务几个系统高峰时段,这是一种昂贵的经营模式,而新技术和其他方法可提供操作灵活性,减少峰荷时间并提供备用容量。只要制定了正确的规则,还是有一些方法可以替代高成本峰荷电力并减轻系统压力。比如电池储能,或抽水蓄能机组利用峰谷差价来赢利。 二是需求侧灵活性,通过对需求侧进行调控来提供灵活性。 随着技术进步,电力调度不再是为了满足不受控制的需求而供应,而是允许管理需求侧以满足可用的供应。 需求响应(DR)并不是什么新鲜事物,但是传统的需求响应程序只专注于在电网压力期间降低负荷。劳伦斯·伯克利国家实验室(LBNL)在介绍DR现在可以提供的各种服务时,采用了一系列比喻来说明了如何利用DR来塑形,移动,甩负荷和摇摆。 塑形:通常引用的加州ISO“鸭形曲线”正说明了利用实时电价塑造负荷的现成机会。 移荷:负荷侧资源还可以将需求转移到一天中更有利的时间,例如,当有多余的可再生能源可用且能源价格较低时。负荷侧资源还可以帮助将需求从更昂贵的时间转移到电价非常低的时段,从而有助于避免对可再生能源的限电。 通过安装开关、无线电控件和智能恒温器,建筑物将变成储热电池:对建筑物的暖气和热水供应进行预冷却或预热。 电动汽车的充电和储能的使用(无论是将来的负荷还是将来的供应)都可以通过类似的方式进行管理。… View Summary +

Perhaps the most basic of electricity sector rules, one that has operated for over a century, is that electricity must be generated at precisely the same time it’s consumed. For years, grid operators have determined load on a system and… View Summary +
The United States is the second-highest emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet — but we are also a leader in technological and economic strength. We have the capability to lead the world in finding solutions to the urgent challenge… View Summary +

Despite being an ocean apart, Germany and New England are similar in many respects. More than 75% of energy used for residential heat in both places relies on natural gas or heating oil. And both have adopted ambitious energy and… View Summary +

Reductions in the carbon intensity of electricity generation, coupled with technological improvements in the end uses that it can power, have created opportunities for the electrification of large segments of the economy. As the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG)… View Summary +
Decarbonising building heat presents both a significant opportunity and challenge to policymakers. Because of the fuel they use and the resulting carbon emissions, buildings are a critical target for energy efficiency. In order to deliver a clean energy system, most… View Summary +