Stochastic planning for active distribution networks hosting fast charging stations

With the advent of electric vehicles (EVs), charging infrastructure needs to become more available and electricity providers must build additional power generation capacity to support the grid. In siting and sizing of fast charging stations (FCSs), both the distribution network constraints, as well as the traffic network limitations, must be considered because FCSs exist on both levels. Moreover, the siting and sizing of wind-powered distributed generation (WPDG) is a solution to gradually decarbonizing the grid; therefore, reducing our carbon footprint. In addition to providing capacity, they also have other benefits in the distribution network such as reducing transmission losses. In this thesis, a new framework is proposed which successfully implements a novel scoring technique to rate the attractiveness of FCS candidate locations thus, determining the expected FCS demand in each candidate location and uses WPDGs to support that load. A study has been conducted to compare the suitability of industrial-scale turbines versus micro-wind turbines in an urban area. A method for selecting candidate locations for the later has been developed. A stochastic program is proposed to account for the non-deterministic elements of the problem including generic loads, residential electric vehicle loads, FCS loads, and wind speed where they are accounted for collectively using a method called convolution. This comes hand-in-hand with a mixed-integer non-linear programming model that sites and sizes both FCSs and WPDGs with an objective of maximizing profits to incentivize investments. A list of novel constraints has been introduced that connect the traffic network to the power network. The problem is modeled from the perspective of electric utilities but also considers the perspectives of the urban planners and potential investors. A case study was implemented showing how the scoring technique works and the results show that the math model considered all the parameters and respected all the constraints delivering a holistic set of decisions to site and size both FCSs and micro WPDGs in an urban area

Low-carbon reliable transmission expansion planning with large-scale renewable energy integration.

Modern electricity systems are changed by the following factors: the development of emerging technologies including renewable energy, carbon capture, power electronics devices, the participation of the demand side in the electricity market; the retirement of aging coal-fired power plants (CFPP); and the implementation of carbon policies. Under the pressure of these changes, transmission systems require augmentations and upgrades to achieve operation safety and reliability requirements. New electricity network planning methods need to be developed to address the above changes. In this research study, the traditional transmission expansion planning (TEP) methods have been improved to adapt to the above changes from three aspects, namely economics, risks, and carbon emissions. To reduce the cost of planning, non-network solutions are coordinated in the TEP model. In terms of the low-carbon transformation: the TEP model is used for considering the CFPP retrofit with post-combustion carbon capture (PCC); while CFPP retirement and replacement models are proposed for aging CFPP. The Pareto optimality of aging CFPP retirement and replacement among three conflicting objectives including carbon emissions, total expenditure, and the operation risks are solved. Moreover, the effect of carbon policies including the carbon tax and carbon trading on TEP are tested. To address the reliability issues, a probability reliability assessment method, a renewable ramping cost model, and a novel risk index are developed to assess the risk in the power systems considering the large integration of renewable energy. The effectiveness of the proposed planning methods has been demonstrated in a few benchmark test systems. Simulations have been used to assess the efficiencies and advantages of each approach. This research study can be used to guide the low- carbon transformation of the electricity systems and it can give suggestions to system planners, power generation companies, and policy makers

Cuban energy system development – Technological challenges and possibilities

This eBook is a unique scientific journey to the changing frontiers of energy transition in Cuba focusing on technological challenges of the Cuban energy transition. The focus of this milestone publication is on technological aspects of energy transition in Cuba. Green energy transition with renewable energy sources requires the ability to identify opportunities across industries and services and apply the right technologies and tools to achieve more sustainable energy production systems. The eBook is covering a large diversity of Caribbean country´s experiences of new green technological solutions and applications. It includes various technology assessments of energy systems and technological foresight analyses with a special focus on Cuba

Low-carbon Energy Transition and Planning for Smart Grids

With the growing concerns of climate change and energy crisis, the energy transition from fossil-based systems to a low-carbon society is an inevitable trend. Power system planning plays an essential role in the energy transition of the power sector to accommodate the integration of renewable energy and meet the goal of decreasing carbon emissions while maintaining the economical, secure, and reliable operations of power systems. In this thesis, a low-carbon energy transition framework and strategies are proposed for the future smart grid, which comprehensively consider the planning and operation of the electricity networks, the emission control strategies with the carbon response of the end-users, and carbon-related trading mechanisms. The planning approach considers the collaborative planning of different types of networks under the smart grid context. Transportation electrification is considered as a key segment in the energy transition of power systems, so the planning of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen refueling infrastructure for fuel cell electric vehicles is jointly solved with the electricity network expansion. The vulnerability assessment tools are proposed to evaluate the coupled networks towards extreme events. Based on the carbon footprint tracking technologies, emission control can be realized from both the generation side and the demand side. The operation of the low-carbon oriented power system is modeled in a combined energy and carbon market, which fully considers the carbon emission right trading and renewable energy certificates trading of the market participants. Several benchmark systems have been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed planning approach. Comparative studies to existing approaches in the literature, where applicable, have also been conducted. The simulation results verify the practical applicability of this method