Given the climatic and geographical conditions of the Russian Federation, the development of cogeneration should become the main line of measures aimed at increasing the energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the country. However, the implementation of programs for development of renewable energy sources (RES) and nuclear power plants (NPP) entails risks of decreasing the amount of combined generation of electricity and heat by combined heat and power plants (CHPP) in the daily load curve base part. The current state of the wholesale market of electric power is characterized by critical conditions for the existing CHPPs in the first price zone of the wholesale market. The electric power cost formed from competitive power bid (CPB) results is such that the incomes earned by heat generating facilities are insufficient for fully covering the costs of their overhauls and modernization of their equipment. The “old” heat generation facilities, including CHPPs, subsidize the development of combined cycle power plants (CCPPs), RES, hydroelectric power plants (HPPs), and NPPs. The Russian Federation energy system development projects must be elaborated taking into account the results from a multivariate analysis of operational, technical, technological, economic, environmental, and social aspects. The heat supply schemes for cities and municipalities are developed subject to ensuring the preset level of reliability with minimizing its cost for the end customer. The minimum cost of heat supply can only be achieved for the optimal structure of heat and electricity generation capacities. This structure must incorporate equipment able to operate in the base, semi-peak, and peak parts of the daily electric load curve, and provide a power margin for passing seasonal maximums in the consumption of electricity and heat. The main milestones of the establishment and evolution of the energy system of Russia are considered. The main trends are shown along with the problems that have arisen in the operation of cogeneration power facilities in connection with the influence of new energy sources. The experience gained in leading foreign countries that have introduced RES is analyzed, and the influence of these sources on the power system balance is studied. The prospects of using combined electricity and heat generating facilities represented by highly maneuverable small- and medium-capacity gas turbine-based CHPPs in the semi-peak and peak parts of the daily electric load curve are analyzed.
A novel approach for electric load curve holistic modelling and simulation
