Why Zero-Carbon Parks Cannot Avoid the "Source-Grid-Load-Storage" Approach

The core goal of a zero-carbon park is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from energy activities within the park. To achieve this goal, simply relying on external green electricity or installing some photovoltaic panels is far from enough; a highly coordinated, flexible, interactive, and intelligent local energy system must be built. This is precisely the core value and necessity of an integrated "source-grid-load-storage" system. Highly coordinated, flexible, interactive, and intelligent localized energy system. This is precisely the core value and necessity of an integrated "source-grid-load-storage" system.

Here are the key reasons why zero-carbon park construction cannot avoid "source-grid-load-storage":

1. "Source" is the foundation of zero carbon: Localized renewable energy supply
   • Core of Carbon Reduction: The core of a zero-carbon park is the clean energy supply. Locally deploying distributed photovoltaics, wind power, biomass energy, and other renewable energy sources is the most fundamental way to directly replace fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions.
   • Reduce Dependence and Costs: Reduce reliance on the external power grid (especially those that may contain thermal power plants), lower electricity costs, and reduce sensitivity to grid fluctuations/price volatility.
   • Improve Energy Self-Sufficiency: Achieve partial or even most of the energy self-generation and self-consumption.
2. "Load" is the key to optimization and interaction: Flexible, adjustable, and efficient load
   • Matching Volatility: Renewable energy (especially wind and solar) is intermittent and volatile. Zero-carbon parks require their internal electricity loads (factories, buildings, charging piles, etc.) to have a certain degree of flexibility and be able to adjust according to renewable energy output (demand response). For example, during peak photovoltaic output, arrange high-energy-consuming equipment to operate; during low output, reduce unnecessary loads.
   • Energy Efficiency Improvement: High-efficiency energy-saving equipment and systems (such as high-efficiency motors, inverters, intelligent lighting, and advanced HVAC) are themselves important means of reducing energy demand (i.e., reducing "load"), and are a prerequisite for achieving zero carbon.
   • Load Resource Utilization: Treat adjustable loads as a resource, participate in system balancing, and improve overall operational efficiency and economic benefits.
3. "Storage" is the hub of stability and balance: Time transfer of energy
   • Solving Intermittency: Energy storage (battery energy storage, thermal storage, cold storage, etc.) is a core technology for solving the intermittency problem of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. It can store excess energy during peak power generation and release it during insufficient power generation or peak electricity consumption, achieving cross-time energy transfer.
   • Smoothing Output/Load Curves: Energy storage can smooth out the fluctuations in renewable energy output, and can also fill valleys and smooth the overall electricity consumption curve of the park, reducing the impact on the power grid and electricity costs (especially reducing high-priced peak electricity).
   • Providing Support Services: Energy storage can respond quickly, providing frequency regulation, voltage support, backup, and other auxiliary services to ensure the stable and reliable operation of the park's microgrid, especially with a high proportion of renewable energy integration.
   • Improve Green Electricity Consumption Rate: Avoid waste of local renewable energy generation (curtailment of solar and wind power), maximizing local consumption.
4. "Grid" is the platform for connection and optimization: An intelligent energy network
   • Physical Connection: The intelligent microgrid is the physical carrier connecting the "source", "load", and "storage" elements, ensuring the safe and reliable transmission of energy.
   • Information Interaction: An advanced distribution network (smart meters, sensors, communication networks) is the basis for data acquisition, status perception, and information interaction, and is a prerequisite for intelligent decision-making.
   • Coordination and Optimization: The intelligent energy management system, based on the data transmitted by the power grid, monitors, predicts, optimizes, and controls the "source", "load", and "storage" in real time, achieving optimal operation of the entire system (lowest cost, highest efficiency, and minimum carbon emissions).
   • Interaction with the External Power Grid: The intelligent microgrid can flexibly exchange electricity (purchase or sell electricity) with the higher-level power grid based on internal supply and demand conditions and external electricity price signals, maximizing economic benefits.

The Synergistic Value of Integrated "Source-Grid-Load-Storage":

• Systematic Carbon Reduction: Only by planning and operating the production of clean energy, efficient and flexible consumption, cross-time storage, and intelligent transmission and scheduling as a whole can the deep decarbonization of the entire park's energy system be achieved.
• Improve Energy Utilization Efficiency: Through source-load coordination, peak-shaving and valley-filling by energy storage, and optimized scheduling, energy losses and waste are significantly reduced.
• Enhance Energy Resilience: In the event of external power grid failures or fluctuations, the local "source-grid-load-storage" system can form island operation, ensuring the power supply safety of critical loads. Energy storage and adjustable loads provide rapid backup capabilities.
• Reduce Comprehensive Energy Costs: Maximize the consumption of low-priced local green electricity, utilize peak-valley price differences for arbitrage (energy storage), reduce the purchase of high-priced peak electricity, participate in demand response to obtain income, and ultimately reduce the overall energy expenditure of the park.
• Support High Proportion of Renewable Energy Integration: Without flexible and interactive "load" and "storage" and an intelligent "grid", large-scale integration of volatile renewable energy will pose a huge challenge to the safe and stable operation of the park's power grid.

In summary, zero-carbon park construction cannot avoid "source-grid-load-storage" because:

1. "Source" Providing the foundation for zero carbon.
2. “Load” Needs to become flexible and efficient to adapt to and support renewable energy.
3. “Storage” Is an indispensable link in solving the volatility of renewable energy, achieving cross-time energy scheduling, and ensuring system stability.
4. “Grid” Is an intelligent platform that connects, coordinates, and optimizes the first three.

“Source-Grid-Load-Storage” is not a simple superposition, but an integrated system of deep integration and synergistic interaction. It is the most effective technical path and inevitable choice for achieving the comprehensive goals of zero-carbon parks " Safe, economical, efficient, low-carbon, intelligent "Any single missing or weak link will greatly increase the difficulty, cost, and risk of achieving the zero-carbon goal. Therefore, building a strong integrated "source-grid-load-storage" system is the core connotation and key to the success of zero-carbon park construction.

Source | Energy Storage Old Iron