Collaborative Development of Photovoltaic/Wind Power, Storage, and Flexible Loads: Toward a Modernized Electric Grid

This collection deals with a new paradigm, i.e., the collaborative development of photovoltaic (PV) generators, wind turbines, storage systems, and flexible loads to achieve modern electric grids with lower and lower fossil fuel impact.

The topics of interest include not only methodologies for the optimal design of PV generators, wind turbines and storage systems (e.g., pumped-hydroelectric storage, electrochemical batteries, hydrogen, etc.), but also case studies (simulation and experiments) to demonstrate electricity production characterized by lower intermittency with respect to the application of the single technologies operating alone.

Moreover, the flexibility of the electric loads can play an important role, regarding the hosting capacity, to increase the share of intermittent renewable power in the electricity generation: for example, heat pumps and, more in general, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVACs), electric vehicles able to implement the so-called vehicle to grid (V2G) operation can represent useful flexible loads.

The methodologies concern the definition of the capacities (power and energy) of PV generators, wind turbines and storage systems to reach remarkable self-sufficiency in terms of load satisfaction and acceptable cost-effectiveness in terms of economic investment. Considering the optimal management of the power systems, possible power curtailment and/or reduction can be used for generators and loads to obtain better matching between generation and utilization.