AMRC’s Post

🔋 Everyone is talking about the new Flexibility Needs Assessment (FNA), but what should an FNA actually look like? Josipa Landeka and I argue that FNAs should be full-scale modeling exercises—not just a residual load curve analysis—to meet the requirements set out by the Electricity Market Directive (EMD). Why? Because they need to inform Member States about the level of flexibility required to balance their energy systems. 📖 Full report here: https://lnkd.in/eicQsdvJ To clarify what FNAs in Europe should achieve, we reviewed a range of flexibility assessments from the literature. Our findings outline how an FNA aligned with the EMD should be structured. Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Decarbonization: Member States need to define how much renewable integration they aim for—or how much curtailment they are willing to accept. In other words, FNAs can only determine how much flexibility is required if a clear target is set. 2️⃣ Flexibility vs. Adequacy: The need for flexibility to maintain supply security should focus on identifying shortfalls in energy and reserves related to the inflexibility of power plants. This contrasts with adequacy assessments (ERAA), which address overall capacity. While these security of supply issues related to inflexibility might seem secondary today, they will become relevant as we phase out conventional fossil-fuel generation on a large scale. 3️⃣ To assess inflexibility, we need to model it: All power plant limitations—such as minimum stable load, minimum downtime, and ramping constraints—must be included in the analysis. Otherwise, we will miss a big part of the picture. This is a new challenge, as, to our knowledge, no European-wide assessment currently uses full-scale unit commitment modeling. A big thanks to the colleagues at ACER for the insightful discussions: Daniel Ihasz-Toth, Rafael Muruais Garcia, Arthur Lynch, Christos Kolokathis and Francois Beaude. And of course a shout out to the team: Silvia L. Vitiello, Rade Cadjenovic, David Pozo Camara, Josipa Landeka, Alexis Meletiou PhD

The new Regulation on #energymarketdesign (2024/1747) provides for an assessment of #Flexibility Needs in the EU. Do you want to know more about it? The #JRC got you covered👇 👇 👇

♨️ SMR Technology and District Heating 🏘️ In its latest insightful article, Damona explores the transformative potential of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for district heating. This innovative technology is set to revolutionise urban heat production and could dramatically reduce our carbon footprint. 🔍 Highlights from the Article: European Energy Consumption: Highlighting the critical role of heating in the EU's energy usage and the urgent need for sustainable solutions. Contrasting Models: Examining Finland’s success with extensive district heating networks versus France’s challenges and opportunities. SMR Potential: Discussing the emerging role of SMRs in boosting district heating systems through innovative and regulatory advancements. 👉 Want to know more? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d7TjX9zr #EnergyTransition #SMRTechnology #SustainableCities #FutureOfHeating #Innovation #Future

🌟New Knowledge Piece: A Deep Dive into Germany's aFRR (SRL) market and Grid Stability 🌟 ➡ Get access to the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dqUjyrJ7 (EN) and https://lnkd.in/dQSjKBCJ (DE) We're excited to release an in-depth article titled "Empowering Grid Stability: Exploring Germany’s SRL / aFRR market, an Ancillary Services Frontier." This piece offers a comprehensive look at the critical role of aFRR (automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve) in maintaining the balance and reliability of Germany's power grid. 🔍What's Inside? - Detailed exploration of control reserve types and their functions. - In-depth analysis of aFRR and its significance in grid stability. - The intersection of aFRR with energy markets and regulatory frameworks. - A closer look at the PICASSO reform project and its impact on battery energy storage systems (BESS). 📣 Why Should You Read It? Whether you're a professional in the energy sector, an asset owner, or simply someone curious about how our power systems work, this article will provide you with valuable insights and a clearer understanding of the complex mechanisms behind grid stability. 💡 Stay Informed! Follow us on Linkedin for more updates and join our newsletter for the latest in energy insights and innovations. 📍 Where to meet us next: We'll be at the e-world in Essen from the 20th to the 22nd of February (booth GA-02) & at the Energy Storage Summit in London from the 20th to the 21st of February. You can already reserve your slot to talk to us in person (link for scheduling a meeting in the comments)! #BESS #SRL #aFRR #batteryoptimisation #e-world #energystoragesummit

Very good read on the aFRR (SRL) market and its value add to the grid stability. It is a very substantial market in the mix of revenue streams for BESS 🔋

📢 DESNZ have published both a call for evidence & consultation this morning on changes to the Capacity Market (CM) to maintain security of supply and enable unabated gas plants to decarbonise. Two tricky things to balance? Some of the key proposals: ⚡ make it easier for ageing plants to access multi-year CM agreements by lowering the capex threshold for 3-year CM agreements. This is all about supporting the retention of operational plants that 'have a role in ensuring the security of supply'. ⚡ ensure all substantially refurbishing or new combustion power plants participating in the next CM auction (T-4 2026) have a credible plan to decarbonise either through converting to hydrogen to power or power CCUS before they become operational. Note: there is a separate govt. response on this topic also published today re Decarbonisation Readiness (DR) requirements - the CM proposal is to ensure that CM applicants which prequalify ahead of the DR legislation being implemented still comply with it if they are in scope. ⚡ introduce an exit pathway 'managed exits' for unabated gas plants with multi-year CM agreements to exit the CM and transfer to a Dispatchable Power Agreement, so they can covert to power CCUS The call for evidence in particular is seeking views on additional exit pathways for unabated gas beyond the above & options for developing NESO's modelling of longer-term capacity needs out to 2032/2033. I posted yesterday about how NESO's pathway to clean power 2030 could include a hefty reliance on 'low carbon dispatchable power', i.e. abated (carbon captured) gas and hydrogen to power. According to DESNZ: "Low carbon flexible technologies – power with Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (power CCUS), hydrogen to power (H2P), and Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) – will be deployed as quickly as possible to deliver long duration flexibility. However, during the transition period we will continue to utilise unabated gas generating capacity, which will move to a backup role to maintain security of supply. " Both the call for evidence and consultation close on 10 December 2024 - relevant docs linked in the comments below ⬇️

🔔 Exciting News! Demand Flexibility Services (DFS) Coming Soon 🔔   As the energy landscape evolves, Demand Flexibility Services (DFS) are set to play a key role in balancing the UK’s electricity grid. With Ofgem's DFS consultation underway, our ENGIE Supply team are preparing to provide clients with full access to this innovative service as soon as it launches. What can DFS do for your business?  ✅ Earn revenue for reducing or shifting your energy use during peak demand periods. ✅ Enhance energy efficiency while supporting a more resilient and sustainable grid. ✅ Gain early access to DFS benefits with ENGIE’s expert guidance and advanced tools.   Stay ahead of the curve and prepare for the future of energy flexibility with ENGIE Supply. We’ll keep you updated as the Ofgem consultation progresses and ensure you're ready to maximise this opportunity.   Get in touch today to discuss how your business can participate and benefit from DFS!   #DemandFlexibility #EnergyInnovation #Sustainability #GridFlexibility #UKEnergy #DFS #SmartEnergy

With the focus now on grid reconductoring the decisions by global utilities and early adopters of Advanced Conductors proves to be even more visionary. This one example (of now hundreds globally) AEP Texas, (345 kV) 240 'route' miles of ACSR replacement with ACCC, won the EEI Edison award in 2016 (interesting template ?). This reconductoring delivered the required capacity increase in same RoW on existing towers while reducing electricity losses of some 250,000+ MW/h annually, equal to taking 30,000+ cars off the road from a GHG / carbon compensatory emissions perspective. Further upside is to pro-rata reduction in technical losses (increased grid efficiency) offered per TW/h saved, means that ~ 400 olympic swimming pools of filtered water (steam and vapour - per TW/h) used in generation is no longer just wasted when such TW/h's are unnecessarily lost across a grid due to continued presence of old conductor designs like ACSR / ACSS. Put in context, ~ 30%+ of all freshwater extractions in USA is used in electricity generation. Worth a read.

U.S. DOE Invests $1.5 Billion to Bolster the Electricity Grid with Clean Energy. See how the U.S. is poised to meet growing electricity demand for the future >> https://lnkd.in/gGqBQWn5 The DOE announced two important actions to lower costs and improve energy access. The first is a $1.5 billion investment in four key transmission projects and the second is the release of the final National Transmission Planning (NTP) Study. #electricity #hydropower #departmentofenergy #nuclearpower #nuclearenergy #google #artificialintellgenice #datacenters #smallnuclearreactors #carboncredits #carbonemissions #carbonoffsets #carbonprices #carbonpricing #carbonscapture #carbonmarkets #carbonnews #carbonprices #carbonremoval #ccs #ccus #cdr #climatechange #cleanenergy #decarbonization #emissionsreduction #energytransition #esg #greenhydrogen #ghgemissions #netzero 

When was the last time, you tried something new? How about something no one has done before? Energinet is looking to build the first hydrogen infrastructure project in Denmark. The project – a proposed hydrogen pipeline stretching roughly 500 km through Jutland to Germany – marks a crucial next step in the green transition. Now, Energinet has chosen COWI as adviser on this ambitious project. COWI will deliver a FEED-study (front-end engineering and design) that among other things will look into optimising the pipeline route, refining the overall system design, and ensuring financial clarity for Energinet to make the final decision to go forward with the project – in which case COWI will stay on, advising on the detailed design of the pipeline. Dubbed 'the Danish hydrogen backbone,' this infrastructure is not just a national project but a crucial piece of the emerging European Hydrogen Backbone. By 2030, this network is expected to stretch 31,000 km across the continent, hopefully making green hydrogen a ubiquitous commodity for the European industry. Read more here 👇 https://lnkd.in/d9TV9-yD