Flexible operation of heat pumps in a decarbonised power system

Chen, Qikun and Qadrdan, Meysam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6167-2933 2025. Flexible operation of heat pumps in a decarbonised power system. Presented at: IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Europe (ISGT EUROPE), Dubrovnik, Croatia, 14 -17 October 2024. Proceedings 2024 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Europe (ISGT EUROPE). IEEE, 10.1109/isgteurope62998.2024.10863519

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Heat pumps emerge as a potential solution, leveraging the thermal inertia of building materials to provide flexibility to the power system. This paper presents a model of the power transmission system with flexible heat pumps, using the Great Britain in 2050 scenario as a case study. Four scenarios with different indoor temperature constraints are defined, to clarify the value of heat pump flexibility. Results reveal that allowing variations within the thermal comfort enables adaptive heat pump operation, avoiding energy consumption during peak times and hence reducing 28% cost. This is attributed to minimised reliance on costly hydrogen-fired generation compared to a scenario with stricter temperature constraints. Consequently, the Locational Marginal Price (LMP) of the power system with adequate flexibility is lower. Furthermore, this paper analyses the operational impact of heat pumps on other flexible units like electrolysers and energy storage units, finding a marginal effect on the latter. This is ascribed to these units’ ability to alternate between charging and discharging states, ensuring operational stability. Additionally, the study highlights the benefits of heat pump flexibility in adapting to ambient temperature fluctuations. The results illustrate that heat pumps with higher flexibility can better mitigate cost increases caused by lower temperatures.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Engineering
Publisher:	IEEE
Last Modified:	24 Feb 2025 15:04
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/176423

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item