An Integer Programming Model for the Selection of Pumped‐Hydro Storage Projects

Abstract

At this time the world faces the dual challenge of increasing the availability of electrical energy while reaching toward a zero-carbon future in a way that minimizes any negative social and environmental impacts. The debate in the electrical power sector has taken a sharp turn recently. It is now about how fast carbon emissions can be reduced entirely, and how to do it. It is no longer relevant whether it is realistic, or even necessary, to slow the emission of greenhouse gases, and whether much of the world outside the developed countries could afford it. The conversation now is about the energy transition, from a hydrocarbon economy to a no-carbon one (Kelman & Harrison, 2019).The contribution of Variable Renewable Electricity (VRE), such as wind and solar photovoltaic projects, is increasing worldwide due to favorable conditions such as economic performance and resource availability (Barbour et al., 2016;Connolly et al., 2016). Technically gas fired plants could provide capacity to supply peak demand and reserves, but at the expense of increasing the emission of greenhouse gases. While conventional hydropower can also support the growth of VRE in power systems, concerns related to their socio-environmental impacts often make this alternative less appealing. The most competitive alternative is another hydraulic flexible resource: