An integrated planning framework for optimal power grid technology portfolio including frequency and reserve requirements
File(s)
Author(s)
Ayo, Olayinka
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Decarbonising the electricity system poses several challenges in terms of network stability and security of supply due to intermittent renewable generators and possible reduction of system inertia. These challenges of a low inertia system in a low carbon future, highlight the need for cost-effective investments in alternative flexible technology solutions beyond conventional thermal plants.
This thesis presents a novel integrated system planning framework to determine optimal and strategic generation and flexible technologies investment while ensuring frequency stability and reserve requirements are met at operational level in a net-zero system. It focuses on linking short-term operation through hourly-timescale unit commitment and seconds-timescale frequency control with long-term multi-day to inter-seasonal planning to face the variations and uncertainties that can exist from variable renewable operation in a low inertia system. The development of such a planning framework is fundamental to achieving operational flexibility and optimal short-term planning of low carbon resources, which is at the core of achieving cost-efficient decarbonisation of the future electricity system. This thesis also assesses the value of representative technologies for flexibility at the different stages of the networked energy system to cover the requirements for hydrogen system flexibility, gas-fired dispatchable generation, hydrogen production by electrolysis, large-scale electricity storage and demand side response.
The obtained results show optimal and significant trade-offs, and cost-effective investment portfolios, from including detailed modelling of unit commitment and frequency stability constraints versus not including them in a power systems planning problem. The results also emphasize that making investment decisions for a net zero electricity system without considering frequency constraints and a detailed unit commitment can lead to very high annual system costs due to significant demand curtailment. Overall, the novel integrated system planning framework is designed to support decision-making and cost-effective investments in technologies for the future net zero energy system adequacy and reliability.
This thesis presents a novel integrated system planning framework to determine optimal and strategic generation and flexible technologies investment while ensuring frequency stability and reserve requirements are met at operational level in a net-zero system. It focuses on linking short-term operation through hourly-timescale unit commitment and seconds-timescale frequency control with long-term multi-day to inter-seasonal planning to face the variations and uncertainties that can exist from variable renewable operation in a low inertia system. The development of such a planning framework is fundamental to achieving operational flexibility and optimal short-term planning of low carbon resources, which is at the core of achieving cost-efficient decarbonisation of the future electricity system. This thesis also assesses the value of representative technologies for flexibility at the different stages of the networked energy system to cover the requirements for hydrogen system flexibility, gas-fired dispatchable generation, hydrogen production by electrolysis, large-scale electricity storage and demand side response.
The obtained results show optimal and significant trade-offs, and cost-effective investment portfolios, from including detailed modelling of unit commitment and frequency stability constraints versus not including them in a power systems planning problem. The results also emphasize that making investment decisions for a net zero electricity system without considering frequency constraints and a detailed unit commitment can lead to very high annual system costs due to significant demand curtailment. Overall, the novel integrated system planning framework is designed to support decision-making and cost-effective investments in technologies for the future net zero energy system adequacy and reliability.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2023-11-01
Date Awarded
2025-08-01
Copyright Statement
Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-NC-ND)
Advisor
Goran, Strbac
Paola, Falugi
Sponsor
Petroleum Technology Development Fund (Nigeria)
Publisher Department
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)