Integrating consumer preferences in renewable energy expansion planning using agent-based modeling

Abstract

As share of renewable sources in the energy sector is increasing, the energy production and distribution network's centralized structure is changing to numerous small-scale distributed networks. Energy consumers in the residential sector are increasingly becoming energy producers by adopting rooftop photo voltaic (PV) systems. However, increasing rooftop PV adoption has contributed to diminishing revenues for utility companies. This paper describes an agent-based model that has been developed to help utility companies better understand the impacts of consumers' preferences and behaviors on adding renewable sources to their energy mix. Experimental results demonstrate that including both consumers and utility companies as stakeholders can help the utilities alleviate revenue losses due to increasing rooftop PV adoption while meeting their renewable energy expansion targets.