Effects of low carbon emission generation and energy storage on greenhouse gas emissions in electric power systems
Abstract
The electric power industry produces substantial amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) as
well as other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recent GHG regulations along with renewable
portfolio standards encourage the integration of low carbon emission generation into the electric
power system and, as a result, drastically affect operations, design, and planning of the electric
power system. Extensive studies on this issue, therefore, are important.
This dissertation first discusses renewable standards and policies in the United States
(U.S.), which include renewable portfolio standards. Current U.S. electricity markets for
renewable generators such as wind generation resources and solar power plants are investigated.
This research analyzes several factors that affect an electric power system due to the integration
of these low carbon generators.
The dissertation then develops system operating cost models for renewable generation
and energy storage. With consideration of CO2 emission costs, the system operating cost model
for a fossil-fired generating unit is presented and discussed.
By using optimal power flow, security-constrained optimal power flow, time step series
input, and the CO2 emissions incorporated objective function, this dissertation develops a new
methodology to study the effects of low carbon emission generation and energy storage on GHG
emissions in electric power systems.
A number of relevant study cases are presented. The cost models and methodology are
applied to the study cases. The IEEE 24 bus Reliability Test System (IEEE RTS) is used as the
sample test system. This system has been modified to include additional generation fuels to study
the amount of various CO2 emissions.
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Simulation results, including system operating costs, total emissions, economic dispatch,
and locational marginal prices, are presented and discussed. This dissertation addresses two
major issues: system operating cost and system reliability. Finally, conclusions are drawn and
discussed, and future work is recommended. Conclusions include:
• The integration of renewable generation reduces CO2 but emissions of reserve units must
be considered.
• The integration of low carbon emission generation tends to reduce system operating cost.
The system operator still must consider the operating cost of renewable generators and
reserve fossil-fired generators.
• The change of emissions and system operating cost are not proportional to the additional
capacity of renewable generation installed due to complexities of an electric power
system.
• The system operating cost model for renewable generation is able to properly represent
the special characteristics of these low carbon emission generators. The proposed
operating cost model for energy storage can also be used to verify its effects on overall
system cost and emissions.
• The developed methodology can be used to investigate an electric power system with
integrated renewable generation and energy storage. It has the ability to consider several
factors and unique characteristics of renewable generation, energy storage, and the
transmission system.
• Generation output profiles of low carbon emission generation significantly affect total
CO2 emissions of an electric power system.
Description
Thesis (M.S.)--Wichita State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering