Skip to main content
Article
Modeling and Solving a Large-Scale Generation Expansion Planning Problem Under Uncertainty
Energy Systems
  • Shan Jin, Iowa State University
  • Sarah M. Ryan, Iowa State University
  • Jean-Paul Watson, Sandia National Laboratories
  • David L. Woodruff, University of California - Davis
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
11-1-2011
DOI
10.1007/s12667-011-0042-9
Abstract

We formulate a generation expansion planning problem to determine the type and quantity of power plants to be constructed over each year of an extended planning horizon, considering uncertainty regarding future demand and fuel prices. Our model is expressed as a two-stage stochastic mixed-integer program, which we use to compute solutions independently minimizing the expected cost and the Conditional Value-at-Risk; i.e., the risk of significantly larger-than-expected operational costs. We introduce stochastic process models to capture demand and fuel price uncertainty, which are in turn used to generate trees that accurately represent the uncertainty space. Using a realistic problem instance based on theMidwest US, we explore two fundamental, unexplored issues that arise when solving any stochastic generation expansion model. First, we introduce and discuss the use of an algorithm for computing confidence intervals on obtained solution costs, to account for the fact that a finite sample of scenarios was used to obtain a particular solution. Second, we analyze the nature of solutions obtained under different parameterizations of this method, to assess whether the recommended solutions themselves are invariant to changes in costs. The issues are critical for decision makers who seek truly robust recommendations for generation expansion planning.

Comments

This is a manuscript of an article from Energy Systems 2 (2011): 209. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1007/s 12667-011-0042-9. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
Springer-Verlag
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Shan Jin, Sarah M. Ryan, Jean-Paul Watson and David L. Woodruff. "Modeling and Solving a Large-Scale Generation Expansion Planning Problem Under Uncertainty" Energy Systems Vol. 2 Iss. 3-4 (2011) p. 209 - 242
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/sarah_m_ryan/23/