Cross-sectoral planning of energy grids in development areas with different heating concepts

The German government's climate protection plan 2050 identifies sector coupling as an important instrument for achieving the climate protection goals. The aim of this contribution is to examine the economic viability of building new energy grids for possible sector coupling in a green-field planning and the individual and cross-sectoral consideration. In a first step, the planning procedures of the electricity, gas and heat sector are described. In the following, two new exemplary residential areas are modelled with electromobility, photovoltaic systems and heating technologies. Four heating technology variations are designed. Each fulfils a given feeding demand, focusing on the electricity, gas, district heating or local heating grid. Furthermore, capital and operational expenditures are calculated. Cost assumptions, revenue assumptions, grid fees, operating costs and a calculation interest rate are taken into account. Finally, an individual and cross-sectoral analysis of the profitability of the energy grids is carried out. Results show that the low-voltage grids can be operated economically in all variations within the normal service life. The gas and heating grids can only be operated economically in the new development area with apartment houses. If a cross-sectoral analysis is considered, economic efficiency is achieved with major differences between the planning variations. The fulfilment of the feeding demand exclusively by the electricity grid is the most cost-effective and achieves the highest profit.