Readiness of Small Energy Markets and Electric Power Grids to Global Health Crises: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In this paper we explore how the COVID-19 pandemic, also known as Coronavirus pandemic, affected the operation of small electric grids, and what can this event teach us on the readiness of such grids in the face of future global health crises. We focus on three major effects: changing patterns of generation and consumption, frequency stability, and the joint impact of low consumption and high share of renewable energy sources. Specifically, we analyze changes in consumption in the Israeli, Estonian, and Finnish grids, and attempt to identify patterns of consumption changes that may be explained by the pandemic. We also analyze changes in voltage and frequency, and show that the low consumption caused significant deviations from the nominal values of both parameters. One main conclusion is that the reduced energy consumption during the pandemic is critical, and has a major effect on the operation of small electric grids. Another conclusion is that since the pandemic pushed the relative share of renewable energy to record highs, this event may help us to better understand the influence of a high share of renewables on small grids, thus offering a glance into a renewable-rich future.

Impacts of COVID-19 on energy demand and consumption: Challenges, lessons and emerging opportunities

“…Similar lessons from the COVID-19 also trigger the thoughts and discussions on how to achieve such positive benefits, as part of a more resilient and desirable low-carbon future, in a more inclusive, planned and less disruptive way [71] . The main lesson stated by Carmon et al [72] is that the low energy consumption caused by COVID-19 affects the control of electricity generation units and further leads to reduce the resiliency and reliability of electricity systems; whilst, the lesson was regarded as experience for the readiness of electric grids to fight future global health crises. COVID-19 could cause negative impacts in both short-term and long-term on the emission intensity, in particular of the EU power market since the clean technologies also suffer from the lower energy/electricity demand and consumption [73] .…”

“…The climate-resilient electricity system was suggested to assist in tackling climate change and COVID-19 [88] . Although facing great challenges, electric power grids and small energy markets are adjusting to getting more resilient to fight future crises [72] . In addition, resilience should be synergistically improved in energy management and waste management.…”

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Energy Systems and Electric Power Grids—A Review of the Challenges Ahead

“…Study Region Challenges [4] electricity demand and supply USA: New York, California, and Florida system operation, demand and demand ramp rate, load forecasting [21] energy sovereignty regions in the USA and Canada energy policies [22] energy use and home energy management New York, USA peak demand and demand ramp rate, energy market/prices [23] energy security regions in the USA energy policies [24] bulk power systems market operation New York, USA energy market/prices,load forecasting, energy policies [25] electric grid operation regions in the USA and Europe system operation challenges, system maintenance, peak demand and demand ramp rate, stability issue [15] load forecasting using mobility regions in the USA and Europe load forecasting, peak demand and demand ramp rate [9] electricity demand trend Ontario, Canada peak demand and demand ramp rate, load forecasting, energy market/prices [26] power system operation Saskatchewan, Canada system operators, load forecasting, stability [8] electricity load changes -statistical analysis Brazil peak demand and demand ramp rate, load forecasting, energy market [27] household energy use China energy market/prices, energy policies [5] electricity demand, economy and climate China system operators, peak demand and demand ramp rate, energy market/prices [28] the impact of the lockdown on power generation and load China system maintenance, energy market [29] photo-voltaic industry's grid parity China photo-voltaic forecasting, market/prices, energy policies [12] operation of small power grids Israel, Estonia and Finland system operators, system maintenance, voltage violation, peak demand and demand ramp rate, stability [6] electricity industry and bulk power system Italy energy market/prices, voltage violation [30] electricity market with large renewables Italy peak demand and demand ramp rate, energy market/prices [31] electricity consumption regions in Europe peak demand and demand ramp rate, system maintenance [11] sustainable electricity and mobility Finland and Sweden energy market/prices, energy policies, expansion of power system [32] people's behavior and residential energy sector sustainability Kragujevac, Republic of Serbia energy market/prices [7] electricity demand during pandemic Spain peak demand and demand ramp rate, energy market/prices, energy policies [33] immediate Impacts on the power sector Europe peak demand and demand ramp rate, energy market/prices, energy policies, system operators…”

“…Many examples for both of these approaches can be found in the recent literature. The bottom-up research approach has been implemented by studying the effects of the pandemic on power systems in several countries, such as the United States [4], China [5], Italy [6], Spain [7], Brazil [8], Canada [9], India [10], Sweden [11], Israel, Estonia, and Finland [12]. One clear trend emerging from these works is the effects of the pandemic on energy consumption patterns and peak demand, mostly due to the preventative measures taken by governments [13].…”

“…Some of the challenges are a direct result of the irregular consumption patterns, e.g., high voltage levels and inaccurate load forecasting, whereas some of them are the indirect result of an effectively higher share of renewable energy generation, e.g., high ramp rates and fluctuations in frequency. In addition to the bottomup approach, several top-down research efforts include new forecasting methods [15], long-term business impacts [2], the general effects of fast economic transitions [11,16,17], possible uses of machine-learning technologies [18], and the challenges related to the changing energy mix [2,12,16,19]. All the works mentioned above, as well as other works related to the impacts of the COVID-19 on energy systems and markets, are summarized in Table 1.…”