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Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Energy Systems and Electric Power Grids—A Review of the Challenges Ahead

Author

Listed:
  • Aviad Navon

    (Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, The Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Haifa 3200003, Israel)

  • Ram Machlev

    (Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, The Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Haifa 3200003, Israel)

  • David Carmon

    (Israel Electric Corporation, Adi 1794000, Israel)

  • Abiodun Emmanuel Onile

    (The Department of Software Science, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia Tee 15a, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Juri Belikov

    (The Department of Software Science, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia Tee 15a, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia)

  • Yoash Levron

    (Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, The Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Haifa 3200003, Israel)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic represents not just a global health crisis, but may signal the beginning of a new era of economic activity, the potential consequences of which we currently do not fully understand. In this context, the mid-to-long-range impacts of the pandemic on the energy sector have been studied extensively in the last few months. Despite these efforts, the pandemic still raises many open questions concerning the long-term operation and planning of power systems. For instance, how will the pandemic affect the integration of renewable energy sources? Should current power system expansion plans change in light of the COVID-19 pandemic? What new tools should be provided to support system operators during global health crises? It is the purpose of this paper to better understand the many aspects of these open questions by reviewing the relevant recent literature and by analyzing measured data. We point out the main challenges that the pandemic introduced by presenting patterns of electricity generation and demand, frequency deviations, and load forecasting. Moreover, we suggest directions for future research that may assist in coping with the mentioned challenges. We hope that this paper will trigger fruitful discussions and encourage further research on these important emerging topics.

Suggested Citation

  • Aviad Navon & Ram Machlev & David Carmon & Abiodun Emmanuel Onile & Juri Belikov & Yoash Levron, 2021. "Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Energy Systems and Electric Power Grids—A Review of the Challenges Ahead," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-14, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:4:p:1056-:d:501017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    14. Jacek Artur Strojny & Michał Stanisław Chwastek & Elżbieta Badach & Sławomir Jacek Lisek & Piotr Kacorzyk, 2022. "Impacts of COVID-19 on Energy Expenditures of Local Self-Government Units in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-25, February.
    15. Beata Bieszk-Stolorz & Iwona Markowicz, 2021. "Decline in Share Prices of Energy and Fuel Companies on the Warsaw Stock Exchange as a Reaction to the COVID-19 Pandemic," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-17, August.
    16. Emirmahmutoglu, Furkan & Denaux, Zulal & Topcu, Mert, 2021. "Time-varying causality between renewable and non-renewable energy consumption and real output: Sectoral evidence from the United States," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    17. Marta Moure-Garrido & Celeste Campo & Carlos Garcia-Rubio, 2022. "Entropy-Based Anomaly Detection in Household Electricity Consumption," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-21, March.
    18. Andrés Oviedo-Gómez & Sandra Milena Londoño-Hernández & Diego Fernando Manotas-Duque, 2021. "Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Spot Price of Colombian Electricity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-14, October.

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