Exploiting Integrated Flexibility from a Local Smart Energy Hub

The synergy among different energy carriers brings a new perspective in the demand-side flexibility provision. This paper proposes a novel concept of integrated flexibility, which is defined as the multi-energy responsive ability of a smart energy hub (SEH) to serve its terminal loads with an alterable combination of multiple energy inputs. The feasible region of the multi-energy flexibility provision, namely the integrated flexible region (IFR), is modeled and calculated based on the standardized energy hub matrix modeling and the polytopic projection. The integrated flexibility is then implemented in the utility-side system scheduling following a bottom-up framework, in which SEHs estimate and submit their IFRs, whereafter the utility system operator optimally schedules the system incorporating IFR constraints. This flexibility providing scheme allows the demandside flexible resources to interact with multiple energy sectors simultaneously while retaining the operation independence of local systems. Case studies illustrate the geometry of the IFR and verify the economic and environmental benefits of implementing the integrated flexibility.