Impact of smart electric thermal storage on distribution grid

Abstract

The paper presents a preliminary assessment on impact of smart electric storage heating on distribution grid in comparison to conventional electric heating if heating electrification is partly introduced. Real-world data of electric load, heating demand, electricity prices and ambient temperature was used for simulations to conclude that while a small penetration of smart storage heating can facilitate efficient usage of the existing distribution grid, larger penetrations can require grid reinforcements due to a significantly increased electric load. These effects could be partly mitigated using smart charging algorithms for storage heaters. From the economic point of view, smart storage heating provides cheaper energy for end-users and lower cost of distribution losses for the system operator.