The Potential Role of Flexibility During Peak Hours on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Life Cycle Assessment of Five Targeted National Electricity Grid Mixes

On the path towards the decarbonization of the electricity supply, flexibility and demand response have become key factors to enhance the integration of distributed energy resources, shifting the consumption from peak hours to off-peak hours, optimizing the grid usage and maximizing the share of ren...

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Main Authors: Ingrid Munné-Collado, Fabio Maria Aprà, Pol Olivella-Rosell, Roberto Villafáfila-Robles
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-11-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/23/4443
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author Ingrid Munné-Collado
Fabio Maria Aprà
Pol Olivella-Rosell
Roberto Villafáfila-Robles
author_facet Ingrid Munné-Collado
Fabio Maria Aprà
Pol Olivella-Rosell
Roberto Villafáfila-Robles
author_sort Ingrid Munné-Collado
collection DOAJ
description On the path towards the decarbonization of the electricity supply, flexibility and demand response have become key factors to enhance the integration of distributed energy resources, shifting the consumption from peak hours to off-peak hours, optimizing the grid usage and maximizing the share of renewables. Despite the technical viability of flexible services, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has not been proven. Traditionally, emissions are calculated on a yearly average timescale, not providing any information about peak hours’ environmental impact. Furthermore, peak-hours’ environmental impacts are not always greater than on the base load, depending on the resources used for those time periods. This paper formulates a general methodology to assess the potential environmental impact of peak-hourly generation profiles, through attributional life cycle assessment. This methodology was applied to five different countries under the INVADE H2020 Project. Evaluation results demonstrate that countries like Spain and Bulgaria could benefit from implementing demand response activities considering environmental aspects, enhancing potential greenhouse gas reductions by up to 21% in peak hours.
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spelling doaj.art-1a25894b3cf14804b8c7fea40403ba182022-12-22T02:06:46ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732019-11-011223444310.3390/en12234443en12234443The Potential Role of Flexibility During Peak Hours on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Life Cycle Assessment of Five Targeted National Electricity Grid MixesIngrid Munné-Collado0Fabio Maria Aprà1Pol Olivella-Rosell2Roberto Villafáfila-Robles3Centre d’Innovació Tecnològica en Convertidors Estàtics i Accionaments (CITCEA-UPC), Departament d’Enginyeria Elèctrica. ETS d’Enginyeria Industrial de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Avinguda Diagonal, 647, Pl.2, 08028 Barcelona, SpainCentre d’Innovació Tecnològica en Convertidors Estàtics i Accionaments (CITCEA-UPC), Departament d’Enginyeria Elèctrica. ETS d’Enginyeria Industrial de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Avinguda Diagonal, 647, Pl.2, 08028 Barcelona, SpainCentre d’Innovació Tecnològica en Convertidors Estàtics i Accionaments (CITCEA-UPC), Departament d’Enginyeria Elèctrica. ETS d’Enginyeria Industrial de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Avinguda Diagonal, 647, Pl.2, 08028 Barcelona, SpainCentre d’Innovació Tecnològica en Convertidors Estàtics i Accionaments (CITCEA-UPC), Departament d’Enginyeria Elèctrica. ETS d’Enginyeria Industrial de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Avinguda Diagonal, 647, Pl.2, 08028 Barcelona, SpainOn the path towards the decarbonization of the electricity supply, flexibility and demand response have become key factors to enhance the integration of distributed energy resources, shifting the consumption from peak hours to off-peak hours, optimizing the grid usage and maximizing the share of renewables. Despite the technical viability of flexible services, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has not been proven. Traditionally, emissions are calculated on a yearly average timescale, not providing any information about peak hours’ environmental impact. Furthermore, peak-hours’ environmental impacts are not always greater than on the base load, depending on the resources used for those time periods. This paper formulates a general methodology to assess the potential environmental impact of peak-hourly generation profiles, through attributional life cycle assessment. This methodology was applied to five different countries under the INVADE H2020 Project. Evaluation results demonstrate that countries like Spain and Bulgaria could benefit from implementing demand response activities considering environmental aspects, enhancing potential greenhouse gas reductions by up to 21% in peak hours.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/23/4443life cycle assessmentgreenhouse gas emissionsdemand responseglobal warming potentialpeak hoursflexibility
spellingShingle Ingrid Munné-Collado
Fabio Maria Aprà
Pol Olivella-Rosell
Roberto Villafáfila-Robles
The Potential Role of Flexibility During Peak Hours on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Life Cycle Assessment of Five Targeted National Electricity Grid Mixes
Energies
life cycle assessment
greenhouse gas emissions
demand response
global warming potential
peak hours
flexibility
title The Potential Role of Flexibility During Peak Hours on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Life Cycle Assessment of Five Targeted National Electricity Grid Mixes
title_full The Potential Role of Flexibility During Peak Hours on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Life Cycle Assessment of Five Targeted National Electricity Grid Mixes
title_fullStr The Potential Role of Flexibility During Peak Hours on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Life Cycle Assessment of Five Targeted National Electricity Grid Mixes
title_full_unstemmed The Potential Role of Flexibility During Peak Hours on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Life Cycle Assessment of Five Targeted National Electricity Grid Mixes
title_short The Potential Role of Flexibility During Peak Hours on Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Life Cycle Assessment of Five Targeted National Electricity Grid Mixes
title_sort potential role of flexibility during peak hours on greenhouse gas emissions a life cycle assessment of five targeted national electricity grid mixes
topic life cycle assessment
greenhouse gas emissions
demand response
global warming potential
peak hours
flexibility
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/23/4443
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