Invited Speaker

Dr. Vladimir M. Shiljkut

Dr. Vladimir M. Shiljkut

Public Enterprise “Electric Power Industry of Serbia”, Republic of Serbia
Speech Title: Decarbonisation of Power Systems Based on Fossil Fuels – Challenges, Possibilities and the Role of Demand Side Participation

Abstract: The increasing pollution of the environment and the jeopardising of the sustainable development of human civilisation have imposed the need for a qualitative shift towards cleaner and safer technologies in the field of energy, especially electricity. Countries whose electricity generation is based primarily on fossil fuels, such as coal, face serious challenges in ensuring their future energy independence and in providing security of supply to their end users. Therefore, it is necessary to explore all possible options and directions of future development, not only as mutually alternative, but also as cumulative, considering their synergistic potential in compensating electricity that will appear as deficient, by shutting down generation capacities based on fossil fuels. Also, the need for mutually harmonised development and application of certain solutions was emphasised. For example, an excessive share of renewable energy sources with very intermittent generation, without the presence of significant energy storage capacity and/or other sources in the power system that can compensate these rapid fluctuations in power, would lead to the problem of balancing the system and disrupting its flexibility and stability. The supporting pillars on which the construction of a safe and decarbonised power system can rest will be listed and briefly presented. Special attention will be given to the possible role and contribution from the demand side, i.e., end users; for example by increasing their energy efficiency, utilising the heat capacity of buildings, demand response and direct demand side management performed by system operator.