In the ever-evolving landscape of renewable energy, integrating wind and solar power into the grid has become both a necessity and a challenge. As these sources grow, so does the uncertainty they bring to power systems. Enter LUO Yuanxiang, a researcher from the School of Electrical Engineering at Northeast Electric Power University in Jilin, China. Yuanxiang and his team have developed a novel approach to tackle this issue, publishing their findings in a recent paper.
The crux of their work is a two-stage robust planning model designed for a hybrid system that includes wind power, photovoltaic (solar) power, thermal power, pumped storage, and battery storage. This model aims to minimize both investment costs and operational expenses while accounting for the inherent uncertainties of wind and solar power.
In the first stage, the model focuses on capacity configuration. “The goal here is to determine the optimal mix of power sources and storage solutions,” Yuanxiang explains. “We’re looking to minimize the sum of investment and maintenance costs, creating a robust foundation for the system.”
The second stage delves into optimal scheduling. Here, the model constructs an uncertain set of wind and solar power outputs, aiming to minimize environmental costs and the cost of abandoned wind and solar power. This stage is crucial for ensuring the system’s reliability and efficiency, even when faced with the unpredictable nature of renewable energy sources.
To solve this complex problem, Yuanxiang and his team employed the column and constraint generation algorithm (C&CG) and strong pairwise theory. These methods decompose the original problem into a major problem and sub-problem with mixed-integer linear characteristics, making it more manageable and efficient to solve.
The team tested their model using an improved IEEE 30-node system, analyzing the economics of the planning scheme under different levels of conservatism. The results were promising, validating the model’s effectiveness and potential for real-world application.
So, what does this mean for the energy sector? As renewable energy sources continue to grow, so will the need for robust, reliable, and efficient power systems. Yuanxiang’s model offers a promising solution, providing a framework for integrating wind and solar power while minimizing costs and environmental impact.
The research was published in ‘Diance yu yibiao’, which translates to ‘Power System Technology’ in English. As the energy sector continues to evolve, so too will the need for innovative solutions like Yuanxiang’s. The future of energy is uncertain, but with research like this, it’s looking brighter than ever.