Coupled Multi-Energy Grid Planning - Paving the Way from Isolated to Integrated Planning

In the course of the energy transition, distribution grid operators of heat, gas and power must adapt their grid expansion planning to new challenges. Up to now, distribution grids have mainly been adapted unidirectionally based on the peak loads of consumers. In future grids, flexible consumers, distributed energy generation as well as sector coupling will determine the requirements and constraints for distribution grid planning. In order to integrate the planning of the individual grid operators, this paper proposes an approach in which an additional downstream process step extends the established procedures. The presented concept of coupled planning is aimed to serve as an intermediate stage to pave the way from isolated to fully integrated planning of multi-energy grids. The new process step uses the planning process of the individual organizational bodies and refines it by taking the sector coupling elements into account. This makes it possible to optimize the coupled energy grid and, at the same time, to make optimum use of the planning processes for the individual grids that have already been established and used for many years. The concept has been evaluated and tested with a case example simulation for a typical planning task. The case underlines the benefits of the presented concept. Following the case study the potential of further developing the concept is discussed. The approach is an important step towards comprehensive integrated grid planning and a more efficient, flexible and reliable infrastructure for energy distribution. It results in an economization of resources, specialists and material of the grid operators.