IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v390y2025ics0306261925005409.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sharing the shortfall: Algorithmic solutions for fair demand curtailment in zonal power markets

Author

Listed:
  • Borbáth, Tamás
  • Van Hertem, Dirk

Abstract

The transition to renewable energy sources introduces volatility in supply and pricing, which increases the need for robust transmission networks and large electricity market pools. These markets, managed by multiple system operators, rely on central algorithms to balance supply and demand. In situations where supply cannot meet demand, involuntary demand curtailment becomes necessary. In zonal markets with flow-based constraints and uneven zone sizes, curtailment often disproportionately affects smaller zones. This paper evaluates alternative “adequacy patches" – rules for more equitable curtailment allocation – ranging from utilitarian to Rawlsian strategies, and assesses their impact on zonal resource adequacy, marketplace stability, and algorithmic complexity.

Suggested Citation

  • Borbáth, Tamás & Van Hertem, Dirk, 2025. "Sharing the shortfall: Algorithmic solutions for fair demand curtailment in zonal power markets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 390(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:390:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925005409
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125810
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261925005409
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125810?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.

    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:390:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925005409. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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.