A robust optimization method for co-planning of transmission systems and merchant distributed energy resources

摘要

This paper presents a new robust co-planning model for transmission investment and merchant distributed energy resources (DERs). The problem is formulated from the viewpoint of power system regulators and planners such that they will build the new transmission facilities and identify optimal locations to direct merchant DERs. The proposed model is a tri-level min-max-min optimization problem where the upper, middle, and lower levels are investment decision of transmission lines and DERs, worst case realization of uncertain parameters, and the best actions in order to minimize the operation costs. The model considers the uncertainties associated with future peak load and generation capacity, the production of renewable units, and the locational marginal price (LMP) of each candidate bus for installing DERs. Results of a case study based on the IEEE RTS 24-bus test system show the usefulness of the proposed model.