Virtual Power Player Using Demand Response to Deal with Unexpected Low Wind Power Generation

Demand response is assumed as an essential resource to fully achieve the smart grids operating benefits, namely in the context of competitive markets and of the increasing use of renewable-based energy sources. Some advantages of Demand Response (DR) programs and of smart grids can only be achieved through the implementation of Real Time Pricing (RTP). The integration of the expected increasing amounts of distributed energy resources, as well as new players, requires new approaches for the changing operation of power systems. The methodology proposed in this paper aims the minimization of the operation costs in a distribution network operated by a virtual power player that manages the available energy resources focusing on hour ahead re-scheduling. When facing lower wind power generation than expected from day ahead forecast, demand response is used in order to minimize the impacts of such wind availability change. In this way, consumers actively participate in regulation up and spinning reserve ancillary services through demand response programs. Real time pricing is also applied. The proposed model is especially useful when actual and day ahead wind forecast differ significantly. Its application is illustrated in this paper implementing the characteristics of a real resources conditions scenario in a 33 bus distribution network with 32 consumers and 66 distributed generators

Operação do sistema ibérico de gás natural: localização das fontes de abastecimento

Em consequência do acentuado crescimento da procura do gás natural, é essencial a organização de uma eficiente infra-estrutura de abastecimento de gás. O local certo para instalar as UFGs - Unidades de Fornecimento de Gás, assim como a afectação óptima dessas fontes às cargas de gás da rede, devem ser convenientemente planeados, de forma a minimizar os custos totais do sistema. Este estudo foi efectuado com o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia de cálculo baseada na aplicação do problema das P-medianas, resolvido pela abordagem Lagrangeana. A heurística Lagrangeana desenvolvida foi aplicada ao caso concreto da rede Ibérica primária de gás natural, modelizada em 65 nós de carga, ligados quer por gasodutos físicos quer por gasodutos virtuais. São apresentados os resultados computacionais gráficos que apoiam a decisão da escolha das UFGs, para um cenário previsível de evolução da procura do combustível até 2015

A long-term swarm intelligence hedging tool applied to electricity markets

This paper proposes a swarm intelligence long-term hedging tool to support electricity producers in competitive electricity markets. This tool investigates the long-term hedging opportunities available to electric power producers through the use of contracts with physical (spot and forward) and financial (options) settlement. To find the optimal portfolio the producer risk preference is stated by a utility function (U) expressing the trade-off between the expectation and the variance of the return. Variance estimation and the expected return are based on a forecasted scenario interval determined by a long-term price range forecast model, developed by the authors, whose explanation is outside the scope of this paper. The proposed tool makes use of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and its performance has been evaluated by comparing it with a Genetic Algorithm (GA) based approach. To validate the risk management tool a case study, using real price historical data for mainland Spanish market, is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology

AiD-EM: Adaptive Decision Support for Electricity Markets Negotiations

This paper presents the Adaptive Decision Support for Electricity Markets Negotiations (AiD-EM) system. AiD-EM is a multi-agent system that provides decision support to market players by incorporating multiple sub-(agent-based) systems, directed to the decision support of specific problems. These sub-systems make use of different artificial intelligence methodologies, such as machine learning and evolutionary computing, to enable players adaptation in the planning phase and in actual negotiations in auction-based markets and bilateral negotiations. AiD-EM demonstration is enabled by its connection to MASCEM (Multi-Agent Simulator of Competitive Electricity Markets).This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under project DOMINOES (grant agreement No 771066) and from FEDER Funds through COMPETE program and from National Funds through FCT under the project UID/EEA/00760/2019info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Energy Analyzer Emulation for Energy Management Simulators

The simulation of microgrids to testing and validate energy management methodologies are an important step to take before the massive implementation of microgrids. However, microgrids are usually unavailable for R&D centers to perform tests and validations. To solve this issue is important to get the simulations closer to the reality, using real energy analyzers and loads. However, again, R&D centers lack from funding and space to buy and mount several loads in their laboratories. To solve this issue, this paper proposes a multi-agent system simulator for microgrids and an energy analyzer emulator that can be used to emulate individual loads or entire houses, and therefore, bringing the pure simulation closer to the reality.The present work has been developed under the EUREKA - ITEA2 Project M2MGrids (ITEA-13011), Project SIMOCE (ANI|P2020 17690), and has received funding from FEDER Funds through COMPETE program and from National Funds through FCT under the project UID/EEA/00760/2013 and SFRH/BD/109248/2015.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Real Time Pricing Approaches to Deal With Unexpected Wind Power Variations

The use of renewables have been increased I several countries around the world, namely in Europe. The wind power is generally the larger renewable resource with very specific characteristics in what concerns its variability and the inherent impacts in the power systems and electricity markets operation. This paper focuses on the Portuguese context of renewables use, including wind power. The work here presented includes the use of a real time pricing methodology developed by the authors aiming the reduction of electricity consumption in the moments of unexpected low wind power. A more specific example of application of real time pricing is demonstrated for the minimization of the operation costs in a distribution network. When facing lower wind power generation than expected from day ahead forecast, demand response is used in order to minimize the impacts of such wind availability change. In this way, consumers actively participate in regulation up and spinning reserve ancillary services through demand response programs

Demand response in electrical energy supply: an optimal real time pricing approach

In competitive electricity markets with deep concerns for the efficiency level, demand response programs gain considerable significance. As demand response levels have decreased after the introduction of competition in the power industry, new approaches are required to take full advantage of demand response opportunities. This paper presents DemSi, a demand response simulator that allows studying demand response actions and schemes in distribution networks. It undertakes the technical validation of the solution using realistic network simulation based on PSCAD. The use of DemSi by a retailer in a situation of energy shortage, is presented. Load reduction is obtained using a consumer based price elasticity approach supported by real time pricing. Non-linear programming is used to maximize the retailer’s profit, determining the optimal solution for each envisaged load reduction. The solution determines the price variations considering two different approaches, price variations determined for each individual consumer or for each consumer type, allowing to prove that the approach used does not significantly influence the retailer’s profit. The paper presents a case study in a 33 bus distribution network with 5 distinct consumer types. The obtained results and conclusions show the adequacy of the used methodology and its importance for supporting retailers’ decision making

Virtual to Reality Emulator for Electrical Loads

The test and validation of demand side management systems are a priority before installing this systems in real environments. This paper presents a load emulator that acts as an energy analyzer. This emulator enables its installation in physical environments, fooling the metering systems. This capability allows the placement of the emulator in a physical metering system while emulating a load that is not there. In a R&D center the emulator can be used to create buildings by placing several emulators for load emulation and using a real and physical metering system to read the consumption data while demand side management algorithms and techniques are used. Using the proposed emulator, the gap between research and real implementations can be fulfill in the laboratories to test and validate demand side management systems. The paper presents the emulator and its results.This work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 641794 (project DREAMGO) and from FEDER Funds through COMPETE program and from National Funds through FCT, under the project UID/EEA/00760/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Application of distinct demand response program during the ramping and sustained response period

The environmental concerns around energy, namely electricity, have driven attention to innovative approaches to fostering consumers participation in the whole energy system management. Accordingly, the concept of demand response provides incentives and signals no consumers to change the normal consumption patterns to increase the use of renewables, for example. The problem is that such response of consumers has a large amount of uncertainty. This paper proposes a methodology in which different demand response programs are activated and deactivated during an event to cover the demand response deviations from the target. Even after achieving the response target, if the actual response of consumers is reduced to a critical level, additional programs are activated. The proposed approach considers consumers participating in an aggregate way, supported by an aggregator. The case study in this paper accommodates three demand response programs, showing how different consumers are activated and remunerated for the provision of consumption reduction. It has been seen that the proposed methodology is flexible as desired to accommodate the uncertainty of consumers’ responses.This work has received funding from FEDER Funds through COMPETE program and from National Funds through (FCT) under the project COLORS (PTDC/EEI-EEE/28967/2017). The work has been done also in the scope of projects UIDB/00760/2020, and CEECIND/02887/2017, financed by FEDER Funds through COMPETE program and from National Funds through (FCT) . The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Omid Abrishambaf to this workinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Contextual Q-Learning

This paper highlights a new learning model that introduces a contextual dimension to the well-known Q-Learning algorithm. Through the identification of different contexts, the learning process is adapted accordingly, thus converging to enhanced results. The proposed learning model includes a simulated annealing (SA) process that accelerates the convergence process. The model is integrated in a multi-agent decision support system for electricity market players negotiations, enabling the experimentation of results using real electricity market data.This work has received funding from the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under project DOMINOES (grant agreement No 771066) and from FEDER Funds through COMPETE program and from National Funds through FCT under projects CEECIND/01811/2017 and UIDB/00760/2020N/