Ways to Improve the Efficiency of Territorial Energy Supply Systems

Abstract

The article investigates power supply systems. It includes sources that use different technologies for the joint production of heat and electricity. In megapolises of Russia the share of thermal energy supplies from combined heat and power plants is significant, but in large and medium-sized ones, its production at boiler houses dominates. The ratio between the cogeneration generation of heat and electricity and its total consumption indicates about the efficiency of territorial energy supply systems. The absence of municipal mini-CHPs and the limitation on the supply of electricity produced by large CHPs in cogeneration mode to the retail market lead to the fact that the efficiency of urban and regional energy supply systems is reduced. The main number of consumers, except for enterprises using its own cogeneration sources, have limited access to inexpensive heat and electricity. Therefore, it is important to increase the share of cogeneration energy production. Also, an indicator is needed that characterizes the level of integration of sources of joint production of heat and electricity in energy supply systems. The main potential for creating integrated energy supply systems is concentrated in large and medium-sized cities, where heat energy is produced at boiler houses. Its transformation into mini-CHPs is in line with the energy transition strategy to distributed energy, but requires changes in the process of managing the development of municipal and regional energy. Favorable conditions for private investment in the development of integrated energy supply systems is the compliance with the goals of sustainable socio-economic development of the territories.