Generation expansion planning considering renewable energy integration and optimal unit commitment: A case study of Afghanistan

Abstract

The main focus of the proposed framework is to examine the importance of electricity interconnections with a high share of intermittent Renewable Energy (RE) sources and attempts to link the gap between planning model and operation with considering realistic operating details. Therefore optimal Unit Commitment (UC) is considered to analyze how operational aspects are appropriately done over the planning period. More specifically, a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model is developed to address the specific challenges of the underlying UC problem. For modelling purposes, demand forecast, applicable RE potentials and the cost of RE technologies are estimated. To reduce the expenses and improve system stability, energy storage systems (pump storage hydro and thermal energy storage) are considered as well. For optimal UC, a typical day (24 h) is employed to determine the capacity expansion and daily operational planning. Each selected day expresses a part of the year (e.g., a season). Incorporation of short-term decisions into the long-term planning framework can strengthen the accuracy of the decisions and guaranty the stability of power networks. The proposed approach can provide valuable insights into the appropriate energy strategies followed by the investors and policymakers at a national and regional level.