Study Guide

Objectives

Learning objectives of the course are:

- The student understands the operating principles of the electricity system and the methods of implementing power balance management. The student can explain how the power balance at the balance window level, which determines the price of exchange electricity, relates to continuous power balance management. Additionally, the student comprehends how Finland's electricity system reserve markets operate.
- The student grasps the impacts of the energy transition on the electricity system: as fossil-based flexible power is phased out and increasingly weather-dependent production takes its place, new solutions are needed for continuous power balance management. The student can analyze how different electricity production methods integrate into the overall system and why there is a growing need for rapid regulation in power balance management. The student also understands the importance of inertia in the electricity system and can explain the goals of synthetic inertia.
- The student masters the principles of new technologies aimed at advancing the management of the electricity system as the energy transition progresses. These technologies include battery systems, heat storage and sector integration implementations, pumped storage power plants and the technical development of hydropower regulation, electric boilers and other industrial-scale demand response, synchronous compensators, small nuclear power, and synthetic inertia.
- The student is also aware of the possibilities of energy storage in managing the electricity system and implementing sector integration. Additionally, the student understands how electric transportation integrates into the overall system.
- The student has a strong understanding of how the hydrogen economy integrates into the energy system and the changes that the large-scale initiation of the hydrogen economy will cause for Finland's electricity production and consumption.

Content

The Finnish electricity system has undergone a significant transformation in a short period. Wind power has grown from virtually zero to become Finland's largest source of electricity production in terms of nominal capacity over the past 15 years, while flexible production based on fossil fuels has been almost entirely phased out. This change is excellent for the climate and the environment, but it also poses significant new challenges for managing the electricity system.

A high-quality electricity system requires continuous power balance management. Regardless of how energy is produced, the constant balance between production and consumption cannot be compromised for a moment. As the energy transition significantly changes the electricity production profile, the rest of the system must be able to increase its flexibility in response to the strong growth of weather-dependent production. This requires new technical solutions, some of which are already in use, while others are still being planned. Examples of existing solutions include grid-connected battery systems, electric boilers and heat storage systems that implement sector integration, and converter solutions that provide synthetic inertia. The comprehensive electrification transition of society can be said to be just beginning, as the plans for the coming decades are enormous, for example, in terms of hydrogen production. The aim of the course is to provide a strong basic understanding of the operation of the electricity system, the changes caused by the energy transition, and the related technologies.

In the course, you will learn about the principles of the electricity system and the effects of the energy transition. The topics covered include Finland's electricity production technologies, their energy production characteristics, and their roles within the system. Additionally, the course will examine the methods of power balance management and the production and consumption techniques capable of regulation. The course will also delve into new technologies brought about by the energy transition, all aimed at increasing the flexibility of the electricity system. Furthermore, the course will explore the possibilities of energy storage in managing the electricity system and implementing sector integration. The course will also provide an overview of future technologies, such as the hydrogen economy and fusion.