Abstract
The continuous expansion of electricity generation from intermittent renewable energy sources (RES) is changing the present generation structure that has been designed to follow fluctuating demand considerably. In order to utilise a high share of supply-dependent RES, the future energy system needs to become more flexible than it is today. This paper describes the different flexibility options that can be implemented with regard to their major restrictions as well as their suitability to balance a certain deficit or surplus of RES generation. Furthermore, it outlines the importance of competition between these different balancing measures to meet the required level of flexibility at lowest cost.
About the authors
Christoph Brunner studied energy and environmental management at the University of Flensburg. Since 2009 he has been analyst at the Trading Company and project manager at the Research and Innovation Department of EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG. His main topics are long term evaluations of conventional and renewable power plants as well as analysis of the German control reserve market. In a joint research project he analyses the economic potential of power-to-gas technologies for storing excess supply of renewable energies. Furthermore, his fields of work include the evaluation of load change potentials in biogas production and the utilisation of large scale battery storage systems.
Felix Teufel studied mechanical engineering at the University of Karlsruhe and the University of California, Santa Barbara. In 2010 he joined the Research and Innovation Department of EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG. There he is working on projects dealing with the integration of renewable energies, electric mobility, battery and infrastructure topics.
©[2013] by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
