Integrated planning and operation of power systems: Flexibility in high penetration of wind and solar

Abstract

Canada has set a target to become net zero by 2050. One of the key pathways for achieving this goal and supporting electrified demand is to expand variable renewable energy capacities. Such integration requires flexibility measures to respond to inherited variability, such as a reactive generation mix, responsive demand, or transmission. This study aims to find the impacts of coordinated planning and integrated operation of two power systems, one with flexible hydro capacities and the other with high shares of variable renewables. The present study uses a linked framework of planning and operational models to analyze different integration levels, load electrification scenarios, and sensitivity to hydropower constraints. The results show that the systems can achieve zero-emission goals with around one-third of the capital requirements when there is no constraint on the grid expansion between the two jurisdictions. Flexibility metrics, like curtailment, perform better when the large wind capacities in one power system are coupled with flexible hydro capacities in the other through the expanded grid. A sensitivity analysis is also done on hydropower constraints which shows a positive correlation between minimum hydropower output and curtailed wind generation when the integration is limited.