Speaker: Raphaël Barth, Project Director in Energy & Environment at Sia Partners and ESCP Business School Master in Management Alumnus (Class of 2006).
In times where the emphasis is often on power production increase (e.g. development of Renewable Energy Sources - RES) and consumption efficiency, a third component of demand/supply balance is somehow neglected: the power grid. Whereas the concept of power grid flexibility is ubiquitous, the reason behind countries’ rush to allow flexibility within their power grid and its challenges is generally overlooked.
As power-production assets are increasingly associated with decarbonised energy towards the 2050 net carbon objective, security of supply becomes a keystone within our electrifying world. Together with demand yearly/intraday fluctuations, the intermittency of RES assets requires an exhaustive and efficient portfolio of flexibility tools (both technical and market) to maintain frequency, operate efficiently and avoid shutdowns.
While countries are striving to achieve a fully flexible and integrated power-grid system, the sophistication level of their power grid’ organisation differ across the globe. On the higher-end, the Western countries generally rely on a highly developed grid network, distinguished by the separation between the Transmission System Operator (TSO) and Distribution System Operators (DSO). This is the case of European countries such as the UK, France and Italy, where respective TSOs National Grid Group, RTE and Terna Group are distinctive entities from DSOs such as UK Power Networks, Enedis and Enel. Whereas, on the other end of the spectrum, some regions such as sub-Saharan countries have not yet developed a country/region-wide organised power grid. These low/off-grid systems result in limited access to energy, leading to low economic development and power outages, as seen in the February 2021 Texas power crisis.
Power System Flexibility mechanisms such as Interconnections, Storage or Demand Flexibility Services are pivotal to efficiently operate the energy system.
Raphaël Barth, Project Director in Energy & Environment at Sia Partners – a global next-generation management consulting firm - discussed:
- The need for power systems flexibility
- An overview of power grid organisation across the globe
- A global approach to understanding the effects of Top7 flexibility mechanisms with case studies focusing on:
- The interaction between France and UK interconnections to trade power
- The US and France initiatives in place for Demand Services Flexibility
- The Indian state of Rajasthan, forced to introduce residential and industrial load shedding as a response to the power crisis affecting the country
- China and its attempt to introduce a consumption cap mechanism
- The French Smart Connection Offer to provide flexible production through local connection
- The French Smart Connection Offer to provide flexible production through local connection
- The European Clean Package to remove barriers to self-consumption
- Switzerland leveraging hydropower reserves as a storage mechanism
About Our Speaker
Raphaël Barth is a Project Director within the Energy & Environment practice of SIA PARTNERS, a global management consulting company. He previously worked for Poweo Production in France (CCGT and Renewables assets). His current assignments with 200+ energy consulting practitioners cover both strategical and operational issues, for private and public clients.
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