A multi-stage multi-objective optimisation model of power system expansion planning integrating sustainability indicators

Al Shidhani, T., Ioannou, A. and Falcone, G. (2020) A multi-stage multi-objective optimisation model of power system expansion planning integrating sustainability indicators. Energies, 13(9), 2199. (doi: 10.3390/en13092199)

Abstract

The increase in global electricity demand, along with its impact on climate change, call for integrating sustainability aspects in the power system expansion planning. Sustainable power generation planning needs to fulfill different, often contradictory, objectives. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimisation model integrating four objective functions, including minimisation of total discounted costs, carbon emissions, land use, and social opposition. Other factors addressed in the model include renewable energy share, jobs created, mortality rates, and energy diversity, among others. Single-objective linear optimisations are initially performed to investigate the impact of each objective function on the resulting power generation mix. Minimising land use and discounted total costs favoured fossil fuels technologies, as opposed to minimising carbon emissions, which resulted in increased renewable energy shares. Minimising social opposition also favoured renewable energy shares, except for hydropower and onshore wind technologies. Accordingly, to investigate the trade-offs among the objective functions, Pareto front candidates for each pair of objective functions were generated, indicating a strong correlation between the minimisation of carbon emissions and the social opposition. Limited trade-offs were also observed between the minimisation of costs and land use. Integrating the objective functions in the multi-objective model resulted in various non-dominated solutions. This tool aims to enable decision-makers identify the trade-offs when optimising the power system under different objectives and determine the most suitable electricity generation mix.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Al Shidhani, Mr Taimur and Falcone, Professor Gioia and Ioannou, Dr Anastasia

Creator Roles

Al Shidhani, T.: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Visualization, Writing – original draft
Ioannou, A.: Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Supervision, Writing – review and editing
Falcone, G.: Conceptualization, Methodology, Project administration, Supervision, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Al Shidhani, T., Ioannou, A., and Falcone, G.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: Energies
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1996-1073
• ISSN (Online): 1996-1073
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 by the authors
• First Published: First published in Energies 13(9):2199
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence