Topic: Constraints on Intermittent Generation TechnologiesSubscribe | Previous | Next
Does the LEAP model impose any constraints on the deployment of intermittent technologies (wind, solar, CSP) within the grid such as: adding a cost on intermittency, requiring additional backup capacity or spinning reserves?
Thanks for this question, Rodrigo. LEAP has several features for modeling limits on the deployment of intermittent generation, including:
Maximum availability. You can define time-sliced availability profiles for intermittent generators that indicate their output is reduced (or there is no output) during certain hours, days, or seasons. At these times, other resources must be used to meet demand and load, which may increase total system capacity and costs. For more information on this, see https://leap.sei.org/help/leap.htm#t=Transformation%2FMaxiumum_Capacity_Factor.htm&rhsearch=maximum%20availability&rhhlterm=maximum%20availability&rhsyns=%20.
Reserve margin target and capacity credits. You can define a target for reserve capacity when the system is at peak load (the planning reserve margin) and specify how much of each process’s/generator’s capacity counts toward the target (its capacity credit). By setting a low capacity credit for intermittent generators – including potentially a credit that decreases over time as renewables deployment increases – you can ensure LEAP holds other types of capacity as a reserve to balance the intermittency. See https://leap.sei.org/help/leap.htm#t=Transformation%2FPlanning_Reserve_Margin.htm&rhsearch=%20planning%20reserve%20margin&rhhlterm=%20planning%20reserve%20margin&rhsyns=%20 for details.
Maximum capacity/maximum capacity addition. If you’re using LEAP with optimization, you can impose explicit constraints on the total intermittent capacity that can be deployed (maximum capacity) or the amount of intermittent capacity that can be built each year (maximum capacity addition). These can be linked to resource availability or other variables. See https://leap.sei.org/help/leap.htm#t=Transformation%2FMaximum_Capacity.htm&rhsearch=maximum%20capacity&rhhlterm=maximum%20capacity&rhsyns=%20.
In general, optimizing power production will consider the cost implications of these settings and penalize renewables to the extent the settings raise the integration cost.
I’ll also note that if you’re using LEAP with NEMO for optimization, you can simulate transmission networks and power flow, thereby capturing the degree to which transmission limits impede renewables deployment. See this post on transmission modeling for more information.