Eduardo Alejandro Martinez Cesena

The University of Manchester · School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

The use of renewable gases such as "green" hydrogen (H2) and synthetic natural gas (SNG) produced with renewable energies is a promising option to reduce carbon emissions and provide flexibility in emerging electricity-heat-gas multi-energy districts (MEDs). However, optimally operating MEDs while injecting renewable gases into the gas network requ...

The increasing integration of distributed energy resources (DER) provides distribution system operators (DSO) with new flexible resources to support more efficient operation and planning of distribution networks. To utilise these resources, various DER flexibility aggregation methods have been proposed in the literature, such as aggregated P-Q flex...

The demand for energy, water and food in Africa continues to increase, resulting in growing pressure on contentious multisector resource systems like the River Nile. The ongoing dispute over Nile resources could become a zero-sum game if addressed from a water-centric viewpoint. Understanding how energy system management impacts water infrastructur...

Renewable energy system development and improved operation can mitigate climate change. In many regions, hydropower is called to counterbalance the temporal variability of intermittent renewables like solar and wind. However, using hydropower to integrate these renewables can affect aquatic ecosystems and increase cross-sectoral water conflicts. We...

The ongoing integration of controllable distributed energy resources (DER) makes distribution networks capable of aggregating flexible power and providing flexibility services at both transmission and distribution levels. The aggregated flexibility of an active distribution network (ADN) can be represented as its feasible operating area in the P-Q...

The integration of distributed energy resources (DER) makes active distribution networks (ADNs) natural providers of flexibility services. However, the optimal operation of flexible units in ADNs is highly complex, which poses challenges for distribution system operators (DSOs) in aggregating DER flexibility. For example, to maximise the provision...

The emergence of distributed energy resources offers customers the option to become prosumers and partially self-supply and trade energy with the grid. However, even though this transition appears economically beneficial for customers, its impacts on other stakeholders have not been systematically assessed and quantified, e.g., network operators ma...

This paper presents a framework for analysing the aggregated flexibility of active distribution networks (ADNs) with distributed energy resources (DER). The analysis takes a different perspective than existing studies, which focus on characterising flexibility as the limits of the flexible power provision, i.e., the set of the network feasible oper...

A widespread approach to characterise the aggregated flexibility of active distribution networks (ADNs) is to estimate the boundary of the feasible network operating areas using convex polygons in the P-Q space. However, such approximations can be inaccurate under realistic conditions where, for example, the nonlinear nature of the network is captu...

Jointly managing water and energy systems, rather than treating each system independently, is recognised as an approach that can lead to a more cost-effective and reliable supply, which is particularly critical in water-rich and developing countries. This has motivated the development of various integrated water-energy simulators, each one catering...

Tutorial presented at the 17th International Conference on Probabilistic Modelling Applied to Power Systems (PMAPS), June 2022

This paper proposes a framework for characterizing and managing active distribution networks (ADNs) via flexibility area segmentation. Specifically, flexible active and reactive power support at the interface with transmission networks is analyzed. The framework is fundamentally different from existing studies that either characterize ADN flexibili...

Multienergy systems (MES) can optimally deploy their internal operational flexibility to use combinations of different energy vectors to meet the needs of end-users and potentially support the wider system. Key relevant applications of MES are multienergy districts (MEDs) with, for example, integrated electricity and gas distribution and district h...

The design of water and energy systems has traditionally been done independently or considering simplified interdependencies between the two systems. This potentially misses valuable synergies between them and does not consider in detail the distribution of benefits between different sectors or regions. This paper presents a framework to couple int...

The file provides the annual half hourly (HH) electricity, heat and gas profiles (17520 data points) for 39 buildings required to model the University of Manchester (UoM) multi-energy district (MED) and integrated electricity-heat-gas network described in: E. A. Mártínez Ceseña, E. Loukarakis, N. Good, and P. Mancarella, “Integrated Electricity-He...

Traditional investment planning practices are becoming less effective in the energy sector as uncertainties increase due to the integration of renewable energies and low carbon technologies (e.g., electric vehicles), and the increasing frequency and severity of extreme events due to climate change (e.g., droughts, earthquakes, etc.). To tackle thes...

As environmental concerns increase, researchers, policy makers, and the public in general are becoming more interested in options to make energy more sustainable while at the same time ensuring that energy systems are affordable, reliable, and resilient. This dynamic is bringing about challenges across the world, as established energy systems (such...

Historically, water and energy systems infrastructure planning and operation have been undertaken in isolation or with limited coupling. These approaches do not adequately recognize the complex interrelations between these systems, and using them introduces a risk of deploying inefficient planning and operational interventions. This risk will becom...

Smart districts can provide flexibility from emerging distributed multi-energy technologies, thus bringing benefits to the district and the wider energy system. However, due to nonlinearity and modelling complexity, constraints associated with the internal energy network (e.g., electricity, heat and gas) and operational uncertainties (for example i...

The energy trilemma, together with energy system liberalisation and development of smart grid technologies, are increasing interest in and the potential of distributed multi-energy systems (DMES), for instance from districts or communities, to provide demand response (DR). However modelling and assessment of such systems is not straightforward give...

This paper proposes a new techno-economic framework for the optimisation of Microgrid (MG) operation considering energy and reserve services, as well as a novel distribution network reliability service. The price signals required to incentivise reliability services are formulated based on the potential of MGs to improve reliability levels. This pot...

In this work a new techno-economic framework to model and assess business cases for energy, reserve and novel reliability services provided by Microgrids (MGs) is presented. The framework combines a bespoke Transactive Energy (TE) approach that aims at co-optimizing these potentially conflicting services. In this context, MGs aggregate, coordinate...

A comprehensive overview of different state-of-the-art tools for the simulation, planning and design of multi-energy systems

As an extension of the ‘energy trilemma’ of affordability/sustainability/security to also include social acceptance, the ‘energy quadrilemma’, is driving multiple and complex developments in energy systems, particularly at the level of distributed energy resources. These, and in particular demand side resources, may have an important role in provid...

Under the current UK regulatory framework for electricity distribution networks, asset upgrades are planned with the objectives of minimising both capital costs (and thus customer fees) and social costs such as those associated with carbon emissions and customer interruptions. This approach naturally results in economic trade-offs as network soluti...

A description of physical building, aggregation and commercial modelling, including optimisation approaches for smart, multi-energy districts

This work investigates from a techno-economic perspective the potential for groups of smart buildings distributed throughout an area to provide Demand Side Response (DSR) as a means to increase electricity distribution network capacity. More specifically, intelligent multi-energy flows between buildings within a smart district are optimized with th...

Chapter 6 introduces the Business Case (BC) assessment process for Energy Positive Neighborhoods (EPNs) developed as part of the COOPERaTE project. The BC is introduced as the primary metric for assessment of EPNs, and indeed, any intervention in a liberalized energy system. The BC assessment process is then presented, which produces quantitative m...

This chapter examines the concept of energy positivity and argues that energy positivity, in the classical sense (i.e., districts that generate more electricity than they consume), is not a suitable objective or metric for Energy Positive Neighborhoods (EPNs), or smart energy districts more generally. Instead, it is argued that flexibility is a mor...

This chapter presents an overview of the barriers to smart, demand-side interventions for neighborhoods and districts. Barriers are classified as political/regulatory, economic, social, and technological. Subsequently, drawing on experience from the COOPERaTE project, the specific challenges for the implementation of the Energy Positive Neighborhoo...

This paper presents a new approach to assess and improve the environmental and economic performance of integrated electricity and heat district energy systems in light of (i) optimal operation of available multi-energy components (e.g., cogeneration and heat pumps) and (ii) energy exchanges within the district through internal electricity and heat...

Large-scale penetration of distributed energy resources such as Wind Farms (WF) and Electrical Energy Storage (EES) will be key attributes of future distribution networks. In this light, it is essential to develop a comprehensive understanding of how these resources actively affect reliability levels and distribution network reinforcement needs. In...

The potential energy, environmental, technical and economic benefits that might arise from multi-energy systems are increasing interest in smart districts. However, in a liberalised market, it is essential to develop a relevant attractive business case. This paper presents a holistic techno-economic framework that couples building/district, multi-n...

Distribution networks are currently undergoing fundamental changes due to the rise of smart solutions such as for instance Demand Response (DR), which increases network complexity and challenges the adequacy of traditional planning practices. This calls for the use of suitable planning methodologies. However, the planning problem may be too cumbers...

Tutorial on Multi-Energy Systems presented in EnergyCon 2016 (http://www.ieee-energycon2016.org/tutorial-2/)

ISGTLA 2015 MONTEVIDEO URUGUAY (http://isgtla.org/tutorial)

ISGTLA 2015 MONTEVIDEO URUGUAY (http://isgtla.org/tutorial)

Photovoltaic (PV) system decision making techniques have traditionally been based on a single economic criterion. However, to properly address global and regional targets for green energy economy, it is necessary to consider a myriad of criteria including environmental implications. A global range of existing or emerging financial support policies...

Increasing environmental concerns are encouraging new building energy efficiency (EE) concepts defined as reductions in net consumption of electricity, heat, gas and/or other energy vectors. Thanks to the smart grid paradigm, this is increasingly being achieved via the installation of low carbon technologies. However, this approach can be severely...

Increasing focus on energy affordability and environmental impact is drawing interest towards the potential value of low carbon technology (LCT) interventions in buildings and district energy systems. Relevant interventions may include improvements of the insulation levels and installation of low carbon and renewable generation technologies (e.g.,...

Demand Side Response (DSR) is recognised for its potential to bring economic benefits to various electricity sector actors, such as energy retailers, Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). However, most DSR is provided by large industrial and commercial consumers, and little research has been directed to the...

The current development of distribution networks into active and smarter systems has been facilitated by the integration of novel technologies such as Microgrids (MGs) and Distributed Energy Resources. These new concepts are expected to bring about significant economic benefits at the distribution level in the form of network reinforcement deferral...

Detailed knowledge of the energy needs at relatively high spatial and temporal resolution is crucial for the electricity infrastructure planning of a region. However, such information is typically limited by the scarcity of data on human activities, in particular in developing countries where electrification of rural areas is sought. The analysis o...

A key feature of smart grids is the use of demand side resources to provide flexibility to the energy system and thus increase its efficiency. Multienergy systems where different energy vectors such as gas, electricity, and heat are optimized simultaneously prove to be a valuable source of demand side flexibility. However, planning of such systems...

Recently, Electricity North West Limited (ENWL), one of the UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) has proposed a Demand Side Response (DSR) based scheme for reducing social costs (e.g., power losses), increasing distribution network capacity, and postponing (or even avoiding) future network reinforcements in the presence of uncertainty. This sol...

This paper presents a methodology for the economic assessment of smarter solutions used for distribution network reinforcement planning; specifically, the methodology was developed to assess the economic value from deploying network reconfiguration and automation, and post-contingency Demand Side Response (DSR) as recommended by the Capacity to Cus...

The primary photovoltaic (PV) system investment decision-making criteria are economics. These criteria are focused on system efficiency and cost, which is reasonable in the context of generous financial support schemes. However, when financial support is phased out, the PV market becomes technologically diversified. Environmental concerns and other...

In the UK, power is mainly traded in a forward market that penalises parties that introduce imbalances to the system at delivery time. This is disadvantageous for wind generators that have to trade power at least one hour in advance (gate closure) based on imperfect forecasts. As a result, wind generators are driven to trade power based on strategi...

In the last decade, the financial attractiveness of photovoltaic (PV) systems has been increasing due to the rapid and constant improvements of PV technologies and the introduction of renewable energy support mechanisms. Under these circumstances, residential electricity consumers can benefit from investments in domestic PV systems. Investment deci...

Real options (RO) theory is well known for enhancing the value of projects under uncertainty. This is achieved by modelling the flexibility that managers possess to adjust the projects in response to changes in their environments. Based on this, RO theory could be used to tackle current energy and environmental issues by enhancing the value of elec...

Investments in wind power projects (WPPs) have increased in the last few years. This trend is partially due to the availability of support schemes, which increase the economic attractiveness of WPPs. Alternatively, the value of WPPs can be enhanced by improving available techniques used for their planning and design. After reviewing WPP literature,...

Sustainable power systems of the future will be characterised by significant penetration of renewable energy sources. Planning and operation of these systems to ensure reliability and security of supply will require application of smart grid techniques and technologies in which demand response (DR) will play a key role. Planning and design of gener...

The electrical sector has become highly competitive introducing new levels of uncertainty. In response to this situation, assessment methods and investment projects must evolve to incorporate uncertainty in the planning stage, and adequately consider the different objectives existing in a competitive environment. This paper proposes a methodology w...

In the last decades, growing environmental concerns have driven investments in electricity generation projects based on Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) such as Photovoltaic (PV) systems. Off-grid PV systems tend to rely on generation side manage- ment measures such as back up generation or storage to provide a supply with an adequate level of relia...

Nowadays, there is growing interest in renewable energy (RE) generation projects due to environmental and sustainability concerns. However, initial costs and uncertainties caused by RE source variability, changes in support schemes, and other factors can render RE projects unattractive when subject to conventional financial assessment. Initial rese...