Review of key problems related to integrated energy distribution systems

TLDR

Integrated energy distribution systems (IEDS) combine electricity, gas, cold, heat, and other energy forms, enabling close and complex coupling that enhances economy, safety, reliability, flexibility, and environmental performance, and are a key focus of regional energy internet research worldwide. The paper reviews existing IEDS research, investigates its operational characteristics and coupling mechanisms, and outlines future challenges in joint planning, optimization control, security analysis, state estimation, situational awareness, and demand‑side management. It presents an integrated model of IEDS and details the coupling mechanisms underlying its operation.

Abstract

Integrated energy distribution system (IEDS) is one of the integrated energy and power system forms, which involves electricity/gas/cold/heat and other various energy forms. The energy coupling relationship is close and complex. IEDS is the focus of regional energy internet research and development at home and abroad. Compared with the traditional power distribution system, IEDS through the multi-energy coupling link comprehensive utilization, effectively improve the distribution system economy, safety, reliability, flexibility and toughness, but also to ease the regional energy system environmental pressure. IEDS is an important direction for the future development of energy systems, and its related research and practice on China's energy system development also has important practical and strategic significance. This paper summarizes the related researches of the IEDS and explores the energy operation characteristics and coupling mechanisms. What's more, the integrated model of IEDS is summarized. On these bases, this paper discusses and prospects some key issues such as joint planning, optimization control and security analysis, state estimation and situational awareness and generalized demand side management.