Lecture 1 – Introduction & Energy Foundations Flashcards

Question

What differentiated super grid from smart grid?

Answer 1

▪ Wide area transmission network ▪ High-voltage direct current ▪ Large generation sites

Answer 2

Smart meter is an essential component of a smart grid

Answer 3

• Electricity is “double invisible” • Limited load information • No price information

Answer 4

• Price signal enable customer response • Required for improved consumption control • Better understanding can result in behavioral change

Answer 5

➢ Capital budgeting and profitability accounting are necessary for assessing the economic viability of energy investments ➢ The methodology for energy investments does not differ fundamentally from other applications, but there exist some unique characteristics of investment in energy technologies, e.g. long planning, construction, and operation periods that make the result of an investment decision strongly dependent on the discounting of future cash flows ➢ Financial appraisal techniques require a forecast of future flows of costs and revenues over the lifetime of the investment ➢ In this context, only the costs and revenues directly associated with the considered investments should be taken into account

Answer 6

Large-scalegeneration: = Conventional power plants (nuclear, coal) = Renewables (PV, solar thermal, wind)

Answer 7

Decentralgeneration: = PV and Wind turbines = (small) CHP plants

Answer 8

≡ High voltage transmission system ≡ Wide area transmission network ≡ Centralized supply model ≡ Highcross-system transmission capacity by HVAC or HVDC ≡ Transmission of electricity from generation centers to consumption centers

Answer 9

≡ Low voltage distribution system ≡ Decentralized supply model ≡ Bi-directional low and medium-voltage electric network ≡ Devices and components linked by ICT, controlling distributed generation and loads ≡ Smart Meter necessary

Answer 10

≡ Generation units mostly owned by big international companies or investors ≡ Grids owned by large grid operating company (TSO) ≡ Existing large-scale institutions with high investment capacities

Answer 11

≡ Small generation unit owned by private household, enterprises and communities ≡ Grid owned network provider (DSO)

Answer 12

≡ Centralized and top-down approach ≡ Mainly existing frameworks, regulations and markets

Answer 13

≡ Decentralized and bottom-up approach ≡ A digitally enabled grid which acts intelligent with the gathered information of the supplier and the consumer to optimize production and consumption of energy by transparency and direct feedback

Answer 14

≡ Less power reserve necessary ≡ Security of supply ≡ Cheaper electricity generation ≡ Economies of scale in generation and transmission ≡ Top down electricity distribution is maintained

Answer 15

≡ Optimizes the energy consumption (peak leveling) ≡ Many small independent power suppliers (private households/ municipalities) → increased competition ≡ Short transmission distance → less losses ≡ More generation flexibility (if one power plant shuts down)

Answer 16

≡ Extension of transmission network necessary → expensive, less acceptance ≡ Electricity supply of a country may depend on electricity generation of foreign countries ≡ Lack of consumer’s sense of accountability for social and environmental consequences resulting from own energy demand ≡ Interoperability of different systems → Requires high coordination and organization effort

Answer 17

≡ Increased level of complexity ≡ More generation and storage capacity necessary → expensive ≡ Current funding of Super Grid extension reduces financial benefits of Smart Grid ≡ Restructuring of the distribution grid necessary → bi-directional power flow instead of top-down power flow ≡ Privacy concerns ≡ Higher volatility of electricity generation

Answer 18

≡ Large-scale blackouts ≡ Local resistance against planned transmission lines ≡ Political threats

Answer 19

≡ Privacy concerns reduces acceptability of smart meter roll-out ≡ Hacker and cyber attacks ≡ Distributional justice: increasing electricity prices for consumers who cannot afford distributed energy resources (DER)