Energy Hub Modelling for Multi-Scale and Multi-Energy Supply Systems

Current energy transitions towards the use of more distributed generation, as well as the decarbonisation of heat and transport, are changing the operation of local energy distribution systems. The impact of these local changes on a national scale energy supply system is not well understood. An energy hub approach was integrated into a national scale gas and electricity transmission networks model (CGEN), to represent local energy distribution systems. The energy hub models the integrated operation of electricity, natural gas and heat distribution systems. The distribution system within a region is described in terms of energy supply sources, conversion technologies and storage systems. Transmission supply points link the energy hubs with the gas and electricity transmission networks. A case study was conducted to investigate the impacts on model outputs by integrating energy hubs into the CGEN model. Preliminary results indicate that the operation of distributed generation and storage in energy hubs have a direct impact on electricity and natural gas supply in the transmission networks. The proposed methodology, therefore, extends the analytical capability of the CGEN model across multiple scales and vectors including heat.