Theoretical foundations of the thermal energy complex development

One of the priority directions of development for the advanced countries today is the digitization of the economy. The article deals with the most important aspects of this process in the one of the largest sectors of the Russian economy - electric power industry. Russian power industry is characterized by a technical lag, so the introduction of modern digital technologies and the formation of an innovative development strategy should become the defining vectors of the electric power enterprises development. The aim of this research work is to analyze the opportunities of Russian power industry in the conditions of digitization of the economy. The methodology of the work includes accumulation of information, their correlation with each other and comparison, analysis and assessment of actual information. The conclusion of the importance of the power industry transformation and development is necessary to drive digital technological innovations. Selection of the main directions of the industry development in the conditions of digitization of the economy and the system of indicators for the assessment of the level of the power industry enterprises economic security.

The article focused on analyzing financial consequences of potential implementation of different carbon regulation measures in the Russian power industry – namely, carbon emission quotas and carbon payment. Specifically, we have evaluated how the transformation of generating capacity mix would reflect the proposed measures and revealed the main structural changes in technological choice up to 2050. Additionally, we have estimated the price consequences of carbon regulation measures – how much the price burden associated with them would be – which is critical for final electricity consumers.

The major results in Russia’s power engineering of the 20th century were the design and mastering of production of practically the entire range of core power equipment with world-class technical characteristics. This made it possible not only to stop power equipment imports amid high growth rates of the country’s power industry but also to ensure its high exports and to occupy a significant position in the global market. Two decades of stagnation in the Russian power industry and the disruption of international relations have led to a notable degradation in domestic power engineering. Now, the initiated technological renovation is largely based on imported equipment. Primarily, this is the case of state-of-the-art gas turbines. The challenges encountered are analyzed, and immediate measures to provide Russia’s power industry with competitive domestic equipment that guarantees the country’s scientific and technological independence are substantiated.

The results of the reform of the electric power industry in Russia, based on the British model, are considered. Its shortcomings are shown. It is proposed to strengthen state regulation due to external challenges for Russia. The experience of Iran's energy industry, which has been under sanctions pressure for many years, is given

The stability of electric power system (EPS) insures energy security of consumers. Therefore, saving the stability of EPS is the main task for professionals around the world. For its solution, a variety of activities is used. This publication deals with the description of the authors' experience for solving the task in the Tyumen power system. The hybrid real-time power system simulator (HRTSim) developed in Tomsk Polytechnic University was used as a platform for research carrying out. The study presents the research result fragments of the momentary and sustained fast turbine valving control (FTVC) which is one of the most effective ways of an automatic emergency control of power units in the thermal power station. Using the simulator HRTSim, one of the greatest challenges of electric power industry in Russia has been solved, i.e. FTVC adequate setting of the power units in the thermal power station Surgut GRES-2 in the Tyumen power system. An FTVC operation largely determines the reliability and stability of the EPS. Therefore, an incorrect setting may result in substantial disturbance or disruption of the stability that already occurred in the past. The adequacy of turbine and FTVC simulations is verified by comparing it with the real data.

The prospects of using big data technology in the field of electric power industry in Russia and what barriers need to be overcome in order to successfully use them are considered

Nuclear power in the Soviet Union and in Russia

The prospects of the Russian nuclear power industry depend on many factors, including economic, technological, political, social, and other aspects of the development of the global energy market. To increase the competitiveness of the Russian nuclear power industry, it is necessary to strengthen the existing advantages of Rosatom State Corporation, as well as state support for programs aimed at the development of nuclear technologies, both in the energy sector and in other sectors of the economy, including healthcare. The issues of developing international cooperation are particularly relevant when realizing the export potential of Russian nuclear energy.

The article presents an assessment of scale and cost of investment decisions necessary to adapt the Russian power industry in response to high level of uncertainty in such factors as post-crisis electricity demand growth, pricing policy at the domestic energy markets, technological profile of thermal power plants modernization and a growth of non-carbon generation. To solve this strategic planning problem, a combination of capacity expansion and fuel supply optimization model and financial models describing the required economic conditions for investment feasibility was used. Based on this approach, we quantified the key economic indicators of the Russian power industry and compared their volatility with the uncertainty range of the input factors.

The electrification of relatively large groups of households in distant areas is often dominated by uncertainties that affect the accuracy of the network designs. Distribution network designers and planners should design and plan cost effective networks amid these uncertainties. The consumption of energy in distribution networks varies due to factors such as demographic variations, economic factors, weather conditions, holidays and customer's lifestyle. Accurate modelling of the residential load is dependent upon credible and reliable data. This paper describes the data gathering process in Eskom through a Load Research project in the residential sector. It also provides a review of developed models and provides a basis for modified models based on proven analytical techniques. Enhanced models would adequately take into account factors such as new disruptive technologies, distributed generation and emerging appliance technologies. From the data gathered, in an area such as Matshana [1] an average gross income is about R2 600 per household per month, approximately 39% hotplate ownership and 79% ownership of fridge or fridge-freezer and estimated consumption of 465 kWh per household per month.

Chance-constrained co-optimization of peer-to-peer energy trading and distribution network operations

The problems of lightning protection of overhead power transmission lines (OL) in modern conditions and the application features of nonlinear surge suppressors (NSS) on overhead lines are considered. The results of a critical analysis of the experience of design, construction and operation of transition points of cable and overhead power transmission lines (COL) in Russian power industry are presented.

The state of generating capacities installed at Russian power stations is analyzed. It is shown that a total of 49.5 GW of capacities that are now in operation must be decommissioned by the year 2020 according to a forecast calculation. A plan of stage-by-stage commissioning of new generating capacities is outlined. Results of the first experience gained from new construction of power facilities are presented, and problems relating to involvement of Russian and foreign investors are pointed out.

The distribution network is directly connected to the user side, making its position critical. Demand-side response enables users to actively participate in distribution network scheduling, which plays a vital role in ensuring both the security and economic operation of the network. Therefore, incorporating demand-side response for optimal scheduling in new energy distribution networks is crucial. This paper focuses on the following aspects: First, the components and advantages of new energy active distribution networks are examined, and a detailed model of incentive-based demand-side response is developed. Then, an optimal dispatch model is established with economic efficiency as the primary objective, solved using an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm, and tested with the IEEE 33-node distribution network standard. Finally, data analysis reveals that with the participation of demand-side response, the new energy distribution network operates with enhanced economic efficiency.

To address the issue of low load recovery rate after distribution network failure, this paper proposes a load recovery strategy that considers the operation flexibility of mobile energy storage (MES) and distribution network reconfiguration. Firstly, the spatiotemporal position mobility and energy shifting properties of MES are analyzed. Constrained by the operating limits of DG and the static security of distribution network, a load recovery model based on MES flexible mobility and distribution network reconfiguration is established to minimize the total cost of load reduction, MES operation and DG generation. Afterward, the proposed load recovery model is transformed into a mixed integer second-order cone programming problem through linearization and solved by YALMIP toolkit. Finally, the simulations of IEEE 33-bus distribution system validated that the proposed load recovery strategy could fully exploit the spatiotemporal operation flexibility of MES to improve the load recovery rate and reduce the comprehensive operation cost of distribution network.