Current and Future Perspectives of Integrated Energy Systems

An integrated energy system is a combination of two or more energy conversion systems. A synergistic benefit of such systems is the output that is greater than the sum of the individuals. A well-designed integrated energy system can substantially reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and boost system reliability. However, for efficient integrated energy systems, it is important to have a good understanding of the system operators responsible for energy flow and for balancing the demand and supply of energy. This chapter discusses the important aspects of the integrated energy systems running on renewable and or conventional resources. Basic knowledge and analysis of integrated energy systems are presented to decide on their merits and demerits. The focused areas include the deployment of electricity generation technologies, challenges associated with local and global optimization of integrated energy systems, and the implications of specified levels of production of renewable energy. It is concluded that a well-designed integrated energy system can substantially reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and boost system reliability. For high load applications, wind-diesel integrated systems are more attractive than wind-PV integration.