In the heart of China’s energy transition, a groundbreaking study led by MENG Yu and his team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., is set to revolutionize how we manage low-carbon parks with high penetration of wind power. The research, published in the Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University (Science Edition), introduces a multi-timescale robustly coordinated operation scheme that promises to enhance both the operational reliability and economy of these parks.
The challenge is clear: wind power, while clean, is notoriously unpredictable. This variability can wreak havoc on the stability and cost-effectiveness of energy systems. MENG Yu and his colleagues, including GUO Rui, SHI Zichuan, XUE Junyi, LÜ Jiawen, and FAN Feilong, have developed a solution that leverages the diverse regulation capabilities of flexible resources like hydrogen, natural gas, and electrochemical energy storages.
The scheme operates in two stages. The first is a day-ahead decision stage, which anticipates the multi-timescale fluctuations of wind power output and load demand. This stage formulates robust scheduling commands for the flexible resources, ensuring that the system can adapt to the unpredictable nature of wind power. As MENG Yu explains, “The day-ahead decision is an adaptive robust optimization problem, which is solved by the column-and-constraint generation (C&CG) algorithm.”
The second stage is the intra-day decision stage, which dynamically adjusts the wind turbine power scheduling commands based on short-term forecasts. This stage is a deterministic optimization problem, solved using linear programming. “The intra-day decision combines the short-term forecast results of wind power output and load demand to dynamically adjust the wind turbine power scheduling commands,” says GUO Rui.
The researchers validated their method using an operation simulation model, combining hourly and daily operation data of wind power and load demand in a practical low-carbon park. The results were impressive: the proposed method effectively improved the operational economy and reliability of the low-carbon park with a high penetration of wind power.
So, what does this mean for the energy sector? For one, it offers a roadmap for integrating more renewable energy into our grids without compromising stability or driving up costs. It also highlights the potential of flexible resources like hydrogen and electrochemical energy storages in balancing the grid. As the world moves towards a low-carbon future, such innovations will be crucial in ensuring a smooth transition.
The study, published in the Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University (Science Edition), is a testament to the cutting-edge research being conducted in China. It not only addresses immediate challenges but also paves the way for future developments in the field. As we continue to grapple with the uncertainties of renewable energy, schemes like this one will be instrumental in shaping a more resilient and sustainable energy landscape.
