IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v258y2020ics0306261919315302.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unit commitment constraints in long-term planning models: Relevance, pitfalls and the role of assumptions on flexibility

Author

Listed:
  • Poncelet, Kris
  • Delarue, Erik
  • D’haeseleer, William

Abstract

In the context of an increasing penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources, the impact of neglecting unit commitment constraints in generation expansion planning models has been widely assessed and demonstrated in the literature. However, the focus is often on thermal generators being the only source of flexibility, and the sensitivity to certain assumptions (e.g., system requirements and technical characteristics) has not been investigated. This paper contributes to the existing literature by revisiting the relevance of considering unit commitment constraints in generation expansion planning models for varying assumptions regarding both the available flexibility and the need for operating reserve requirements. The results indicate that if storage technologies are considered, integrating technical constraints has only a minor impact on both overall cost projections and most investments, with the exception of investments in storage technologies themselves. Furthermore, the investments in storage technologies are shown to be highly sensitive to the assumptions made regarding the assumed flexibility of thermal generators and the future need for operating reserves. These sensitivities are shown to be of an order of magnitude higher or of an equal order of magnitude compared to the impact of integrating technical constraints with continuous rather than integer commitment variables.

Suggested Citation

  • Poncelet, Kris & Delarue, Erik & D’haeseleer, William, 2020. "Unit commitment constraints in long-term planning models: Relevance, pitfalls and the role of assumptions on flexibility," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:258:y:2020:i:c:s0306261919315302
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113843
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261919315302
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113843?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abdin, Islam F. & Zio, Enrico, 2018. "An integrated framework for operational flexibility assessment in multi-period power system planning with renewable energy production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 898-914.
    2. Collins, Seán & Deane, John Paul & Poncelet, Kris & Panos, Evangelos & Pietzcker, Robert C. & Delarue, Erik & Ó Gallachóir, Brian Pádraig, 2017. "Integrating short term variations of the power system into integrated energy system models: A methodological review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 839-856.
    3. Deane, J.P. & Chiodi, Alessandro & Gargiulo, Maurizio & Ó Gallachóir, Brian P., 2012. "Soft-linking of a power systems model to an energy systems model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 303-312.
    4. Welsch, Manuel & Deane, Paul & Howells, Mark & Ó Gallachóir, Brian & Rogan, Fionn & Bazilian, Morgan & Rogner, Hans-Holger, 2014. "Incorporating flexibility requirements into long-term energy system models – A case study on high levels of renewable electricity penetration in Ireland," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 600-615.
    5. De Jonghe, Cedric & Delarue, Erik & Belmans, Ronnie & D'haeseleer, William, 2011. "Determining optimal electricity technology mix with high level of wind power penetration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(6), pages 2231-2238, June.
    6. Pina, André & Silva, Carlos A. & Ferrão, Paulo, 2013. "High-resolution modeling framework for planning electricity systems with high penetration of renewables," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 215-223.
    7. Koltsaklis, Nikolaos E. & Dagoumas, Athanasios S., 2018. "State-of-the-art generation expansion planning: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 563-589.
    8. Deane, J.P. & Drayton, G. & Ó Gallachóir, B.P., 2014. "The impact of sub-hourly modelling in power systems with significant levels of renewable generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 152-158.
    9. Koltsaklis, Nikolaos E. & Georgiadis, Michael C., 2015. "A multi-period, multi-regional generation expansion planning model incorporating unit commitment constraints," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 310-331.
    10. Pereira, Sérgio & Ferreira, Paula & Vaz, A.I.F., 2017. "Generation expansion planning with high share of renewables of variable output," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 1275-1288.
    11. Poncelet, Kris & Delarue, Erik & Six, Daan & Duerinck, Jan & D’haeseleer, William, 2016. "Impact of the level of temporal and operational detail in energy-system planning models," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 631-643.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Niina Helistö & Juha Kiviluoma & Hannele Holttinen & Jose Daniel Lara & Bri‐Mathias Hodge, 2019. "Including operational aspects in the planning of power systems with large amounts of variable generation: A review of modeling approaches," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(5), September.
    2. Oree, Vishwamitra & Sayed Hassen, Sayed Z. & Fleming, Peter J., 2019. "A multi-objective framework for long-term generation expansion planning with variable renewables," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Buchholz, Stefanie & Gamst, Mette & Pisinger, David, 2020. "Sensitivity analysis of time aggregation techniques applied to capacity expansion energy system models," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    4. Vrionis, Constantinos & Tsalavoutis, Vasilios & Tolis, Athanasios, 2020. "A Generation Expansion Planning model for integrating high shares of renewable energy: A Meta-Model Assisted Evolutionary Algorithm approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    5. Mertens, Tim & Poncelet, Kris & Duerinck, Jan & Delarue, Erik, 2020. "Representing cross-border trade of electricity in long-term energy-system optimization models with a limited geographical scope," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    6. Scott, Ian J. & Carvalho, Pedro M.S. & Botterud, Audun & Silva, Carlos A., 2019. "Clustering representative days for power systems generation expansion planning: Capturing the effects of variable renewables and energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    7. Collins, Seán & Deane, John Paul & Poncelet, Kris & Panos, Evangelos & Pietzcker, Robert C. & Delarue, Erik & Ó Gallachóir, Brian Pádraig, 2017. "Integrating short term variations of the power system into integrated energy system models: A methodological review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 839-856.
    8. Østergaard, P.A. & Lund, H. & Thellufsen, J.Z. & Sorknæs, P. & Mathiesen, B.V., 2022. "Review and validation of EnergyPLAN," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    9. Dagoumas, Athanasios S. & Koltsaklis, Nikolaos E., 2019. "Review of models for integrating renewable energy in the generation expansion planning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1573-1587.
    10. Chen, Siyuan & Liu, Pei & Li, Zheng, 2020. "Low carbon transition pathway of power sector with high penetration of renewable energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    11. Sajad Aliakbari Sani & Olivier Bahn & Erick Delage & Rinel Foguen Tchuendom, 2022. "Robust Integration of Electric Vehicles Charging Load in Smart Grid’s Capacity Expansion Planning," Dynamic Games and Applications, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 1010-1041, September.
    12. Krakowski, Vincent & Assoumou, Edi & Mazauric, Vincent & Maïzi, Nadia, 2016. "Feasible path toward 40–100% renewable energy shares for power supply in France by 2050: A prospective analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 501-522.
    13. Krakowski, Vincent & Assoumou, Edi & Mazauric, Vincent & Maïzi, Nadia, 2016. "Reprint of Feasible path toward 40–100% renewable energy shares for power supply in France by 2050: A prospective analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1529-1550.
    14. Collins, Seán & Deane, J.P. & Ó Gallachóir, Brian, 2017. "Adding value to EU energy policy analysis using a multi-model approach with an EU-28 electricity dispatch model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 433-447.
    15. Chang, Miguel & Lund, Henrik & Thellufsen, Jakob Zinck & Østergaard, Poul Alberg, 2023. "Perspectives on purpose-driven coupling of energy system models," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    16. Koltsaklis, Nikolaos E. & Dagoumas, Athanasios S., 2018. "State-of-the-art generation expansion planning: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 563-589.
    17. Ringkjøb, Hans-Kristian & Haugan, Peter M. & Seljom, Pernille & Lind, Arne & Wagner, Fabian & Mesfun, Sennai, 2020. "Short-term solar and wind variability in long-term energy system models - A European case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    18. Thomas Heggarty & Jean-Yves Bourmaud & Robin Girard & Georges Kariniotakis, 2024. "Assessing the relative impacts of maximum investment rate and temporal detail in capacity expansion models applied to power systems," Post-Print hal-04383397, HAL.
    19. Qingtao Li & Jianxue Wang & Yao Zhang & Yue Fan & Guojun Bao & Xuebin Wang, 2020. "Multi-Period Generation Expansion Planning for Sustainable Power Systems to Maximize the Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, February.
    20. Seljom, Pernille & Rosenberg, Eva & Schäffer, Linn Emelie & Fodstad, Marte, 2020. "Bidirectional linkage between a long-term energy system and a short-term power market model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:258:y:2020:i:c:s0306261919315302. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.