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Big data has potential to unlock novel groundbreaking opportunities in power grid that enhances a multitude of technical, social, and economic gains. As power grid technologies evolve in conjunction with measurement and communication technologies, this results in unprecedented amount of heterogeneous big data. In particular, computational complexity, data security, and operational integration of big data into power system planning and operational frameworks are the key challenges to transform the heterogeneous large dataset into actionable outcomes. In this context, suitable big data analytics combined with visualization can lead to better situational awareness and predictive decisions. This paper presents a comprehensive state‐of‐the‐art review of big data analytics and its applications in power grids, and also identifies challenges and opportunities from utility, industry, and research perspectives. The paper analyzes research gaps and presents insights on future research directions to integrate big data analytics into power system planning and operational frameworks. Detailed information for utilities looking to apply big data analytics and insights on how utilities can enhance revenue streams and bring disruptive innovation are discussed. General guidelines for utilities to make the right investment in the adoption of big data analytics by unveiling interdependencies among critical infrastructures and operations are also provided.

Big data has a potential to unlock novel groundbreaking opportunities in the power grid sector that enhances a multitude of technical, social, and economic gains. The currently untapped potential of applying the science of big data for better planning and operation of the power grid is a very challenging task and needs significant efforts all-around. As power grid technologies evolve in conjunction with measurement and communication technologies, this results in unprecedented amount of heterogeneous big data sets from diverse sources. In particular, computational complexity, data security, and operational integration of big data into utility decision frameworks are the key challenges to transform the heterogeneous large dataset into actionable outcomes. Moreover, due to the complex nature of power grids along with the need to balance power in real time, seamless integration of big data into utility operations is very critical. In this context, big data analytics combined with grid visualization can lead to better situational awareness and predictive decisions. This paper presents a comprehensive state-of-the-art review of big data analytics and its applications in power grids, and also identifies challenges and opportunities from utility, industry, and research perspectives. The paper analyzes research gaps and presents insights on future research directions to integrate big data analytics into electric utility decision framework. Detailed information for utilities looking to apply big data analytics and details insights on how utilities can enhance revenue streams and bring disruptive innovation in the industry are discussed. More importantly, general guidelines for utilities to make the right investment in the adoption of big data analytics by unveiling interdependencies among critical infrastructures and operations are also provided.

The increasing complexity of the design and operation evaluation process of multi-energy grids (MEGs) requires tools for the coupled simulation of power, gas and district heating grids. In this work, we analyze a number of applicable tools and find that most of them do not allow coupling of infrastructures, oversimplify the grid model or are based on inaccessible source code. We introduce the open source piping grid simulation tool pandapipes that—in interaction with pandapower—addresses three crucial criteria: clear data structure, adaptable MEG model setup and performance. In an introduction to pandapipes, we illustrate how it fulfills these criteria through its internal structure and demonstrate how it performs in comparison to STANET®. Then, we show two case studies that have been performed with pandapipes already. The first case study demonstrates a peak shaving strategy as an interaction of a local electricity and district heating grid in a small neighborhood. The second case study analyzes the potential of a power-to-gas device to provide flexibility in a power grid while considering gas grid constraints. These cases show the importance of performing coupled simulations for the design and analysis of future energy infrastructures, as well as why the software should fulfill the three criteria.

The electrical power sector plays an important role in the economic growth and development of every country around the world. Total global demand for electric energy is growing both in developed and developing economies. The commitment to the decarbonization of economies, which would mean replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources (RES) as well as the electrification of transport and heating as a means to tackle global warming and dangerous climate change, would lead to a surge in electricity consumption worldwide. Hence, it appears reasonable that the electric power sector should embed the principles of sustainable development into its functioning and operation. In addition, events such as the recent European gas crisis that have emerged as a result of the massive deployment of renewables need to be studied and prevented. This review aims at assessing the role of the renewable energy in the sustainable development of the electrical power sector, focusing on the energy providers and consumers represented both by businesses and households that are gradually becoming prosumers on the market of electric energy. Furthermore, it also focuses on the impact of renewables on the utility side and their benefits for the grid. In addition, it identifies the major factors of the sustainable development of the electrical power sector.

This study is a product of the Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (AICD), a project designed to expand the world's knowledge of physical infrastructure in Africa. The AICD provides a baseline against which future improvements in infrastructure services can be measured, making it possible to monitor the results achieved from donor support. It also offers a more solid empirical foundation for prioritizing investments and designing policy reforms in the infrastructure sectors in Africa. The book draws upon a number of background papers that were prepared by World Bank staff and consultants, under the auspices of the AICD. The main findings were synthesized in a flagship report titled Africa's infrastructure: A time for transformation, published in November 2009. Meant for policy makers, that report necessarily focused on the high-level conclusions. It attracted widespread media coverage feeding directly into discussions at the 2009 African union commission heads of state summit on infrastructure.

Thermal power generation technologies are widely used for electricity production, for heat provision in district or process heating systems, and for combined heat and power generation. In most cases, thermal technologies are heat driven and electricity is produced as a by‐product, thus resulting in a non‐flexible behaviour of the electricity production. Modern power grids are characterised by an increasing share of renewable leading to a need for enhanced and flexible ways of controlling the power flow. To provide services to the power grid, thermal generating technologies may be used in a more efficient way, coupled to gas and heat storage systems or aggregated in virtual power plants. Several technical factors determine which technologies are suitable for flexibility provision, including power ranges, start up times and ramp rates. In this work, carried out in the frame of the MAGNITUDE H2020 project, the technical characteristics of thermal sector‐coupling technologies were analysed using data from the seven real‐life project's case studies. The technical suitability was determined based on the product requirements in selected European power markets for the provision of identified system services. Expected future developments and trends were highlighted well.

Plug‐in electric vehicles (PEVs) have become a key factor driving towards smart cities, which allow for higher energy efficiency and lower environmental impact across urban sectors. Industry vision for future PEV includes the ability to recharge a vehicle at a speed comparable to traditional gas refuelling, i.e. <3 min. per vehicle. Such a technology, referred to as ultra‐fast charging (UFC), has drawn much interest from research and industry. However, UFC poses unprecedented challenges to existing electricity supply infrastructure due to its large power density, impulsive, and stochastic load characteristics. Planning the locations and electric capacities of UFC stations is critical to preventing detrimental impacts. In particular, efforts must be made of mitigate grid asset depreciation, grid instabilities, and deteriorated power quality. The authors first review planning methods for conventional charging stations. Next, they discuss outlooks for UFC planning solutions by drawing an analogy with renewable energy (RE) source planning. This analogy is based on the similar power density and stochastic characteristics of RE and UFC. While this study mainly focuses on UFC planning from the power grid perspective, other urban aspects, including traffic flow and end‐user behaviour, are examined for feasible UFC integration within smart cities.

Microgrids are an emerging technology that offers many benefits compared with traditional power grids, including increased reliability, reduced energy costs, improved energy security, environmental benefits, and increased flexibility. However, several challenges are associated with microgrid technology, including high capital costs, technical complexity, regulatory challenges, interconnection issues, maintenance, and operation requirements. Through an in-depth analysis of various research areas and technical aspects of microgrid development, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the strategies and technologies required to overcome these challenges. By assessing the current state of microgrid development in Pakistan and drawing lessons from international best practices, our research highlights the unique opportunities microgrids present for tackling energy poverty, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting sustainable economic growth. Ultimately, this research article contributes to the growing knowledge of microgrids and their role in addressing global sustainability issues. It offers practical recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and local communities in Pakistan and beyond.

This book reviews the major developments in and the lessons learned from the 21-year (1991-2012) experience with private sector participation (PSP) in the power sector in India. It discusses the political economy context of the policy changes, looks at reform initiatives that were implemented for the generation sector, describes transmission and distribution segments at different points in the evolution of the sector, and concludes with a summary of lessons learned and a suggested way forward. The evolution of private participation in the Indian power sector can be divided into different phases. Phase one was launched with the opening of the generation sector to private investment in 1991. Phase two soon followed - early experiments with state-level unbundling and other reform initiatives, including regulatory reform, culminating in divestiture, and privatization in Orissa and Delhi respectively. Phase three, the passage of the electricity act of 2003 by the central government, followed by a large increase in private entry into generation and forays into transmission and experiments with distribution franchise models in urban and rural areas during the 11th five-year plan (2007-12) period. In phase four, at the start of the 12th five-year plan (2012-17), the sector is seeing a sharp reduction in bid euphoria and greater risk aversion on the part of bidders, who are concerned about access to basic inputs such as fuel and land. In this context, the report is structured as follows: chapter one gives introduction; chapter two presents private sector participation in thermal generation; chapter three presents private sector participation in transmission; chapter four deals with private sector participation in distribution; chapter five deals with private sector participation in the Indian solar energy sector; chapter six deals with financing of the power sector; chapter seven presents emerging issues and proposed approaches for the Indian power sector; and chapter eight give updates.

Social considerations for a sustainable future lead to market demands for electromobility. Hence, electrical power distribution operators are concerned about the real ongoing problem of the electrification of the transport sector. In this regard, the paper aims to investigate the large-scale integration of electric vehicles in a Swedish distribution network. To this end, the integration pattern is taken into consideration as appears in the literature for other countries and applies to the Swedish culture. Moreover, different charging power levels including smart charging techniques are examined for several percentages of electric vehicles penetration. Industrial simulation tools proven for their accuracy are used for the study. The results indicate that the grid can manage about 50% electric vehicles penetration at its current capacity. This percentage decreases when higher charging power levels apply, while the transformers appear overloaded in many cases. The investigation of alternatives to increase the grid’s capabilities reveal that smart techniques are comparable to the conventional re-dimension of the grid. At present, the increased integration of electric vehicles is manageable by implementing a combination of smart gird and upgrade investments in comparison to technically expensive alternatives based on grid digitalization and algorithms that need to be further confirmed for their reliability for power sharing and energy management.