Microgrid Value of Ramping

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the value of microgrid ramping capabilities in balancing supply and load amidst increasing renewable integration, using a cost-benefit analysis and an optimal scheduling model.

Contribution

It introduces a novel microgrid ramping valuation method based on reserve availability and develops an optimal scheduling model tested through simulations.

Findings

Microgrid ramping provides significant local balancing benefits.

The proposed model effectively quantifies ramping value.

Simulations demonstrate the approach's practical effectiveness.

Abstract

The growing penetration of renewable generation in distribution networks, primarily deployed by end-use electricity customers, is changing the traditional load profile and inevitably makes supply-load balancing more challenging for grid operators. Leveraging the potential flexibility of existing microgrids, that is to help with supply-load balance locally, is a viable solution to cope with this challenge and mitigate existing net load variability and intermittency in distribution networks. This paper discusses this timely topic and determines the microgrid value of ramping based on its available reserve using a cost-benefit analysis. To this end, a microgrid ramping-oriented optimal scheduling model is developed and tested through numerical simulations to prove the effectiveness and the merits of the proposed approach in microgrid ramping valuation.