Editorial. Multienergy Systems

Abstract

This Special Issue on Multienergy Systems is motivated by the tremendous changes and opportunities in integrated planning, operation, and modeling of the energy systems, including electric, natural gas, and district heating-cooling systems together with the demand side. Traditionally, the role of electric power has been regarded as an energy carrier between the power plants and the consumers. Consequently, the focus of power system analysis, planning, and operation has been limited to those parts of the system that are between the electrical side of the power generators and the power outlets of the consumers. By expanding the system boundaries to also include the dynamics of supply of primary energy, for example, gas, and the characteristics of consumers' power consumption, the overall efficiency and security of the power system can be improved. Furthermore, energy requirements of some consumers can be satisfied by different energy carriers. For example, heating can be achieved by electric power, gas, or, if available, district heating networks. An integrated analysis of all these systems would, therefore, offer new possibilities of providing an energy system with additional redundancy and flexibility, resulting in more efficient and resilient energy offerings to the consumers and the society, in general.