Assessment of systemic effects from integration of distributed generation facilities into regional energy systems

In many countries of the world, distributed generation takes on greater and greater importance. The share of energy generation by distributed generation facilities in the countries of the European Union averages about 20%, incl. in Denmark — 47%, Germany — 45% of all generated energy. This is due to the fact that when integrating distributed generation facilities, additional systemic effects are reached along with generation of electric and heat energy: reduction in losses during energy transmission, increase in reliability of energy supply to consumers, reduction in required investments for development of distribution networks and other effects. The purpose of this article is to determine methods of assessment of systemic effects from integration of distributed generation facilities. The probabilistic economic and mathematical model of reliability of the regional energy system and method of comparative analysis were used for achievement of this purpose. As a result of the carried-out work, methods of assessment of systemic effects were developed and assessed on the example of potential integration of distributed generation facilities into the regional energy system of the Leningrad region of Russia. The potential distributed generation facilities were boiler plants that can be reconstructed into cogeneration facilities. Systemic effects were determined when integrating distributed generation facilities: reduction in capital investments for development of distribution networks of the regional energy system of the Leningrad Region makes 37–90$/kW, reduction in operational costs for energy transmission — 3$/kW, reduction in losses from undersupply of energy at consumers — 110$/kW. Such assessment of systemic effects from integration of distributed generation facilities may be used in a comprehensive planning of development of regional energy systems in order to improve the efficiency of their operation.