A Methodology to Support the Flexibility Maximization for Multi-Energy Systems to Provide Services to the Electrical Distribution System

The paper proposes the Energy-Lattice methodology designed to model and analyse multi-energy systems (MES) as energy transformation flows. A mixed-integer linear programming algorithm supports the methodology to set short-term planning for MES to satisfy the multi-energy demand, and the provision of services, like ancillary services to the power system. The methodology is based on the notion of energy layers associated with energy carriers. An energy layer represents the provision of services and the satisfaction of the external demand, by the operation of suitable devices, like generators, storages and loads related to an energy carrier. Energy layers are related to each other by conversion nodes. This work was partially carried out in the European project H2020 MAGNITUDE (n. 774309). The paper illustrates the main features of the Energy Lattice methodology and the underlying algorithm that model the behaviour of the MES in the short term. This algorithm is a mathematical mixed-integer linear programming composed of two steps. The former copes with the energy demand and the latter, according to the results of the first one, verifies the economic convenience to provide ancillary services according to the identified flexibility margins