Load Management at Distribution Grid Level: A Pricing Model following the 'Polluter Pays Principle'
(2017)
In this study, a pricing model for distribution grid operators is developed, which fosters reductions in peak loads on demand-side. The aim of the developed pricing model is to allocate network costs amongst users according to the costs-by-cause approach or following the environmental economics concept of the ‘polluter pays principle’. The cost-by-cause allocation incentivises increased utilisation rates of the grid infrastructure by customers. By increasing the utilisation rates, the costs per unit can be decreased. Moreover, a storage-based load management system that can technically achieve the load reduction is evaluated. The first result is that it is extremely expensive to cover the total peak load using a storage system, due to the high required storage capacity and high market prices for storage systems. However, the developed MinLoad pricing model incentivises customers to reduce their peak loads and smooth their load profiles. To reach the peak load reduction, alternative load management measures can be more efficient than electricity storages at present. By implementing the MinLoad pricing model with significant incentives to reduce peak loads, the most efficient technology (or a combination of several technologies) will emerge over a period of time. The third result is that the application of a two-step pricing model is necessary. Given the German regulatory framework, the potential savings approach zero over time. In the first step, network costs can be the regulator of the load management system. In the second step, the costs of generating electricity have to be focused to reach the shown goals. The development of the twostep pricing model facilitates the integration of renewable energies into the power grid on the one hand. On the other hand, the potential savings for both the distribution grid operator and consumers can be achieved.
Der vorliegende Artikel untersucht in einem Modell ohne Marktverzerrungen in Form von Umlagen als Bestandteil des Strompreises die Wirtschaftlichkeit der dezentralen Spitzenlasterzeugung anhand der Stromgestehungskosten. Analysiert wird konkret der Einsatz von Gas-, PV-Freiflächen- und Windenergieanlagen. Das Ergebnis dieser Untersuchung ist zum einen, dass der Aufbau von dezentralen Erzeugungskapazitäten zur Deckung der Spitzenlasten vor Ort im Vergleich zum Bezug aus dem vorgelagerten Netz bereits heute wirtschaftlich ist. Zum anderen wird geklärt, wann und unter welchen Rahmenbedingungen die Wirtschaftlichkeit des Einsatzes von Stromspeichertechnologien zur Verwendung der jährlichen Überschussstrommengen aufgrund der regenerativen Stromerzeugung als Lastmanagementmaßnahme gegeben ist.