WorkingPaper, ponencias invitadas y contribuciones en congresos no publicadas http://hdl.handle.net/11531/4153 2026-05-19T21:25:01Z 2026-05-19T21:25:01Z Ormeño Mejía, Eliana Carolina Chaves Ávila, José Pablo Troncia, Matteo http://hdl.handle.net/11531/110085 2026-05-15T04:30:52Z

When flexibility signals interact: Quantifying the interplay of mechanisms for acquiring DSO services Ormeño Mejía, Eliana Carolina; Chaves Ávila, José Pablo; Troncia, Matteo ; The growing incorporation of distributed energy resources (DERs), together with the electrification of transport, heating and cooling, is making distribution networks more dynamic and more exposed to local congestion and voltage problems. In this context, system operators are considering a range of flexibility acquisition mechanisms, including network tariffs, local flexibility markets (LFMs), and flexible connection agreements (FCAs), to address these network challenges. However, these mechanisms are often designed independently, even though they can coexist and act on the same customers. Depending on their design and how their signals interact, these acquisition mechanisms may reinforce each other, enabling more effective customer responses to meet network requirements, or, conversely, lead to redundant or conflicting signals that undermine their joint efficiency.Thus, this work presents a based-model assessment, developed within the BeFlexible project, to analyse how multiple mechanisms for acquiring flexibility interact when implemented jointly in distribution networks with high shares of DERs and flexible demand. The study examines how price signals from network tariffs, local flexibility markets, and flexible connection agreements jointly influence the behaviour of flexible loads, such as electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps (HPs), and water heaters (WHs), and how these responses translate into network impacts. Four case studies are considered to assess: (i) the interaction between network tariff designs (national and local) and LFMs; (ii) the role of temperature-driven demand variation under these acquisition mechanisms and network impacts; (iii) the effect of changes in regulated tariff components; and (iv) the interplay between FCAs, network tariffs, and LFMs.The results show that predictable system-wide tariff signals may synchronise flexible demand and unintentionally create local congestion, particularly for highly price-responsive resources. LFMs improve congestion management by introducing locational corrective signals, while ex-post local tariffs help reduce excessive predictability, gaming opportunities, and local market power concentration. Flexible connection agreements further complement tariff- and market-based mechanisms by limiting coincident demand during constrained hours. Overall, the findings highlight that a coordinated acquisition mechanism design is essential to align incentives with local grid constraints, reduce inefficient or conflicting signals, and support the secure and cost-effective operation of active distribution networks.

Rico Cabrera, Javier Hermanns, Miguel http://hdl.handle.net/11531/109949 2026-05-07T04:27:57Z

Asymptotic analysis of the thermal interaction of geothermal boreholes with aquifers valid for all groundwater flow regimes Rico Cabrera, Javier; Hermanns, Miguel ; Heating and cooling needs of buildings represent a significant share of the world’s total energy consumption. To reach a more sustainable energy future, it is crucial to enhance the efficiency of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Reducing energy demand in buildings contributes not only to the preservation of limited natural resources but also to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts. Among the available technologies, HVAC systems that harness low-temperature geothermal energy are among the most promising solutions to achieve such reductions. [...]

Avello Gorostidi, Pedro Chaves Ávila, José Pablo http://hdl.handle.net/11531/109931 2026-05-08T07:49:18Z

Electricity System Service Costs on the Rise: Is Spain’s Cost Allocation Mechanism Still Fit for Purpose? Avello Gorostidi, Pedro; Chaves Ávila, José Pablo ; System service costs in Spain have increased by more than 400% since 2020, reaching 16.5% of wholesale market value in 2024. These costs are recovered through a uniform volumetric charge on demand, despite being largely non-marginal or location-specific. This paper assesses the efficiency implications of this allocation mechanism and quantifies associated welfare losses using empirical aggregate supply and demand curves from the Spanish day-ahead market. Results show growing distortions, although small in size relative to wholesale market volumes. However, the distortion is expected to grow, particularly as demand elasticity increases. The paper concludes that volumetric recovery is no longer fit for purpose and proposes alternative mechanisms based on network tariffs and imbalance-linked allocation.

Retorta, Fábio Chaves Ávila, José Pablo http://hdl.handle.net/11531/109804 2026-04-29T04:25:13Z

Data-Driven Case-based Grid Segmentation for Local Flexibility Markets Retorta, Fábio; Chaves Ávila, José Pablo ; Local flexibility markets have emerged as a promising market-based approach to accommodate the increasing penetration of distributed energy resources in distribution grids in a cost-efficient manner. This paper presents a novel fast data-driven methodology for the segmentation of medium-voltage distribution networks into flexibility zones based on historical operation data. Within each flexibility zone, activating active power flexibility has a similar effect on network constraints regardless of the specific connection node. This allows the DSO to assess and procure flexibility needs at zonal level, while enabling aggregators to manage and optimize their flexibility portfolios by zone. A case study is conducted to validate the methodology and the performance of the proposed data-driven grid segmentation by comparing with the online zones computation approach. The results demonstrate the advantages of the proposed grid segmentation in terms of computational efficiency in real-time flexibility procurement.