Spatial distribution of thermal energy storage systems in urban areas connected to district heating for grid balancing

Fluctuating renewable energy sources and its rising share in the electricity grid need to be balanced. Thermal Energy Storages (TES) can buffer thermal energy generated by various energy converters, e.g. Combined Heat and Power Plants (CHP) and Heat Pumps (HP), for supplying a lack or demanding a surplus of electricity energy from the power grid. Simultaneously generated heat energy can be demanded from households in heating applications later. However, in dense populated areas, installation sites for thermal energy storage systems are rare due to a large building area. Hence, the spatial distribution of thermal energy storages can increase flexibility options for the operation of energy converters. The installation and operation of thermal storage systems are analyzed with a mathematical optimization tool. Spatial distribution and utilization of certain energy converters are calculated on hourly base. The optimization is driven by a cost minimization related to invest, maintaining and fuel consumption. Simultaneously, the revenues for selling electricity at the electricity market are maximized. Technical and economical limitations are implemented in various scenarios in order to analyze the flexibility options with the spatial distribution and operation of thermal energy storages.