Optimal Grid Flexibility Assessment for Integration of Variable Renewable-Based Electricity Generation

Abstract

This study delves into power system flexibility, with a keen focus on the integration of variable renewable electricity generation into power grids. Two scenarios were analyzed. The base scenario revealed an aging grid, insufficient generation capacity, frequent outages, and little renewable energy generation (1.9%), along with a significant (71.23%) loss of load. In contrast, the investment scenario presented solutions including raising VRE capacity to 44%, adding 1000 MW capacity transmission lines, installing 200 MW capacity grid-scale battery storage, and technological enhancements. These interventions effectively eliminated loss of load, reinforcing energy resilience. Investments in CCGPP and grid-scale batteries proved instrumental in mitigating the variability of renewable energy. Improved transmission promised efficient power exchange and regional collaboration. The elimination of annualized energy spills and the removal of ramping constraints marked significant strides in enhancing power system flexibility. This research underscores the pivotal role of grid flexibility in accommodating VRE sources. By implementing the proposed optimal solutions, Afghanistan can lead the way toward a cleaner, more resilient, and more interconnected energy future. These findings offer a replicable framework for addressing similar challenges in integrating renewable energy sources globally and supporting the transition to sustainable and reliable energy.

Nodal Invulnerability Recovery Considering Power Generation Balance: A Bi-Objective Robust Optimization Framework

“…f 1 and f 2 are two objective functions of the upper level. The investment cost of MGs is shown in (2); note that the relationship between investment cost and generator capacity is assumed to be linear. a i,t is a binary decision variable; it takes 1 if a type-t MG is integrated at bus i in this round of recovery, where different MG types are relevant to different power limits.…”

“…Furthermore, increasing consumer demand has become a major trend in the development of power grids, and the complexity of the load types has significantly escalated, making systems more fragile than before [1]. At the same time, the large proportion of variable renewable energy (VRE) integration poses great challenges for stable system operation [2,3]. In such cases, the safety stability margin of a power system decreases, increasing the probability of power outage accidents when the system is disturbed [4,5].…”