INDUSTRIAL MICROGRIDS AS TOOLS FOR MANAGING THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN INDUSTRIAL REGIONS

Abstract

The integration of electricity grids with technologies for small-scale distributed generation based on natural gas consumption is one of the most important innovative directions for improving the reliability and energy efficiency of power systems. Synchronous operation of large energy consumers and distributed generation systems is a new element of the electricity system. This element is an industrial microgrid, which has a unique ability to control the operating modes of the electrical energy system compared to conventional industrial electricity consumers. The aim of this study is to develop a theory and methodology for the use of microgrids in industrial areas under the market-based conditions of electricity and natural gas purchase. An analysis of trends in the use of small-scale distributed generation shows that the operation of distributed generation based on renewable energy sources is not economically feasible in all countries. In some countries, such as Russia, for example, the use of distributed energy sources powered by natural gas is the most important. The study of pricing principles for the purchase of energy in the wholesale and retail electricity markets and for the purchase of natural gas from regional suppliers and on commodity exchanges shows that managing the volatility of energy demand schedules can have a significant impact on the prices of electricity and natural gas used by industrial companies and large consumers of energy resources. As part of a unified power system, industrial enterprises and small distributed generation systems simultaneously consume electricity from the Unified Energy System, generate electricity through a distributed generation system into the internal network of the enterprise and external network the power system, and consume natural gas through the enterprise consumption system and the distributed generation system. Synchronised operation of an industrial enterprise and a small system of distributed generation system in the unified control system of a microgrid enables the enterprise to reduce the combined costs of purchasing energy resources and increase the efficiency and reliability of power supply to equipment. The article presents a system of factors influencing the demand of microgrids for electricity and natural gas consumption and develops a model for the integrated control of industrial microgrids under their integration with the technology for managing the demand of industrial enterprises for electricity and natural gas consumption. The control algorithm developed for a microgrid takes into account the cross effects of changes in its energy and gas demand, energy market price factors, internal constraints for industrial load management, external external of the Unified Energy System and the Unified Gas Supply System, and the ability to meet the energy demand of external consumers of the microgrid. The paper is of scientific and practical importance and can be used in the process of developing, implementing and managing microgrids at industrial enterprises in Russia and around the world.