The #grids will increasingly become bottlenecks for #decarbonization and challenge security of supply unless #flexibility solutions are scaled. Flexibility now more than ever is at the core of an #intelligent #energysystem. There is an increasing reliability risk during the #energy_transition, due to a potential timing mismatch between resource additions, load growth and connection issues.
Enhancing and re-designing grid capacity will be critical for a smooth and faster #Renewable integration at scale. As #baseload and #dispatchable capacity gets replaced by intermittent renewables, #system_adequacy challenges are expected to impact major regions within the coming decade. With increasing levels of #EV penetration, power quality issues such as #voltage_fluctuation, and #uneven_peaks are expected to rise on the demand side. The energy system will need almost 3 times more #flexibility by 2030, with more than 50% of flexibility expected to come from #BESS battery storage and #DR demand response in 2050. Orchestrating flexibility solutions at the local level will need a data-driven digital approach to accommodate millions of new “invisible” connections.
At macro level one such solution is Minimum Technical Load (#MTL), which is a crucial operational parameter in power system management, especially for TPS to ensure #flexibility and combat #intermittent generations from RE sources. It plays a key role in grid stability and reliability, particularly during low demand periods or high renewable generation when plants must still provide minimum power for #voltage control, #frequency regulation, and #spinning reserves.
With the increasing #penetration of RE in the country, the need for grid flexibility led to efforts to reduce #MTL to around 55% from earlier 70% allowing plants to operate at lower load levels with acceptable #efficiency and #reliability. Recently, there is a strong push, exemplified by #regulatory mandates and pilot programs, to further reduce MTL to 40% in thermal plants to enhance #flexibility for integrating higher RE share.
MTL has decreased from around 70% to current targets of 55% and ambitious goals of 40%. This decline is vital for the flexible operation of thermal plants in a renewable-rich grid environment, ensuring system reliability, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability. There are regulatory provisions to compensation for such part load operations and its impact on operational parameters.
